In collaboration with Jamie Beeden - Photography Expert
Collecting vintage photography is a journey of discovery, but where do you start? With such a large variety to choose from it may seem like a difficult task to find a good starting point. Now, you have come to the right place. Our photography expert has put together a clever guide to get you started with your cool photo collection. Whether you want to collect snapshots of your favourite movie stars & musicians, or vintage press photos, our beginner's guide for collecting will get you started on the right foot and know how to look at vintage photo's.
Getting Started
It helps to have a theme that you will base your collection around. For example, you could collect one type of subject matter, such a landscapes or famous people or photos from a particular photographer or era. It’s important to pick a theme that is close to your heart. A good place to start is at Catawiki’s Movie Stars & Musicians Photography auction. Here you will find a variety of celebrity photographs from Marilyn Monroe and James Dean to Freddie Mercury and The Beatles. We’ve already done some of the work for you by narrowing down the subject matter. If famous people isn’t your thing, you can also check out our Press Photos auction which is now hosted on a weekly basis.
Our photography expert recommends starting your collection with press photos intended for newspapers and magazines. These photos, sometimes called “work prints”, are increasing in popularity because, unlike an original copy of an iconic image, they are reasonably affordable. For a few hundred euros you could start your collection with one of these so-called work prints.
What to Look For
Now that you have a theme and an idea of where to start looking, what should you look for in a photograph? There are a few features which add to the rarity and value of vintage photographs which are useful to keep in mind when shopping for your collection.
1. Scarcity - If a photograph was only released with a numbered amount of copies, chances are good that the photo is more valuable. The fewer copies, the more valuable the photo. Watch out for so-called “secretarial” prints. These were photos of famous Hollywood celebrities, mostly in the 30s and 40s, that look as if they're signed but were actually hand dedicated en-masse by their assistants for the fans. Sadly such prints are not worth as much.
2. Print Date - Images published closer to the date on the negative will be more valuable than later reprints. However, that’s not to say that reprints do not also have any value. They can also be a great addition to your collection. Just keep an eye out for the real “vintage prints”. These are copies made at the time the photograph was taken, or at a range of one year.
3. Subject Matter - The more well known the issue, the more value a photograph will have. A bit of research can turn a seemingly anonymous photograph into a hidden treasure. For example, in 2011 a man purchased a 19th-century photograph of men playing croquet for $2 simply because he liked it, but after some research, he discovered that the photo featured Billy the Kid, one of only two known photographs of the famous outlaw. His purchase turned in a profit of $2.3 million!
4. Condition - Always check the photograph for any creases, tears, fading or damage of any kind. While some may think it adds charm to the photo, more damage means less valuable.
5. Photographer - Photos from certain well-known photographers or studios can increase the value of a photograph simply by having their name attached to the image. Examine Ansel Adams for example, his works and his name are so well-known that the name will always add value to the photograph. When it comes to collecting old press photos, there are a few stamps on the reverse to look out for: Magnum Photos, LIFE, TIME and AP, as well as individual photographers such as Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson or Robert Doisneau.
We hope we have given you an idea of where to start and what to look for when collecting vintage photographs. For exceptional examples, check out our monthly Movie Stars & Musicians auction as well as our weekly Press Photos auction. If you have already discovered a rare treasure, you can also register to sell your vintage photograph here.