Welcome to Lelands - Sports Memorabilia and Card Auctions

Lot # 1044: The Solowinski Archive: Photographs & Fashion from Richard Avedon Associate (10,000+ pieces)

Starting Bid: $1,000.00

Bids: 8 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "2018 Invitational",
which ran from 7/15/2018 9:00 AM to
8/17/2018 10:00 PM



This archive is from the family of Ray Solowinski & Brynne Johnson. Noted photographer Ray was an associate of the iconic Richard Avedon and worked for such legends as Emilio Pucci. He worked with many of the great models of the day including his future wife actress & model Brynne. Discovered by producer David O'Selznick of "Gone With The Wind" fame, Brynne worked for the Eileen & Jerry Ford of Ford Modeling and is best remembered for her LIFE magazine cover the for August 15, 1949, issue. Dating from the 1940s-60s, the majority of the collection is vintage photographs and original negatives. There is a total of well over 10,000 pieces. Breaks down to about 9,000 negatives, over 1,000 photographs, plus a lot of other things as well. Much of the work is by Solowinski, but there is fine material here from other photographers. The images consist of: 1) 1959 Trip to Russia: oversized images and negatives from 1959 American National Exhibition in Russia where the "Kitchen Debates" occurred between Premier Nikita Kruschev and VP Richard Nixon. Plus, Moscow Circus and more. 2) 1940s-70s modeling material with many of the super legends as Cheryl Tiegs and Lauren Hutton. 3) Images working with legendary art directors Ben Sackheim and Bernie Springsteel. 4) Celebrity photos of Mary Anne Mobley, Kitty Carlisle, Dick Clark, Bess Meyerson, Claudette Colbert, Carol Channing, Tippi Hedren, Lilian Gish, Mitzi Gaynor, Twiggy by Leslie Hornsby, and many more. 5) There is all kinds of high art fashion images including nudes, bathing suits, large series of 1950s-60s lingerie, various advertising poses, racial, and more. The transparencies/negatives are all sizes from small up to 8x10" in both b/w and color. The prints are mostly double-weight, tons of oversized, both b/w w and color, and there is even a large group of contact sheets. Overall quality is exceptional. The collection is not just photography but there is other great memorabilia: 1) Large collection of 1940s material from Jesse Marsh, the famed comic book artist who drew Tarzan for Whitman. There are several letters to Brynne, who he was madly in love with as evidenced by the content. There are also a couple of dozen sketches including one of Tarzan inscribed "To Steve Reeves after whom I patterned my drawings of Tarzan...Jesse Marsh." Many are of Brynne, both b/w and color, and even an oil painting of her by Marsh. Relating to Disney's Nine Old Men are an unusual train snapshot of Jesse & Tom Oreb w/Ward Kimball stamping on verso and a postcard from Tom Oreb & Ollie Johnston. 2) Painting by local artist (22x28") of Gabby Bouchet same as her LIFE Magazine cover as well as original photo same as the cover (Type 1). 3) January 28, 1952, LIFE magazine advertising poster promoting "Young Women" as well as rare LIFE advert MINT "cover" flyer. 4) Original John Robert Powers portfolios with images. 5) Three vintage hats in original box made by haute couture millinery Bill Cunningham. Apparently, Brynne wore them in photo shoots (photos/negs may be in the collection). Also, about a dozen letters from Cunningham, a close friend. 6) Autographs including two Eileen Ford letters, nice group of letters from haute couture millinery decor 1949 Davis O'Selznick letter terminating Brynne's Hollywood contract, plus tons of other ephemera including LIFE magazine rare blank-backed proof covers, and much more. This is an exceptional collection with many thousands of dollars in breakdown value.

Views: 1737