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From Harry Hooper to Greta Garbo: A Look at Celebrity Photos

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This column provides a gallery of original and mostly vintage celebrity photos to give you an idea why they are popularly collected. Whether you collect memorabilia of sports, Hollywood movies, famous inventors or politicians, there are quality photos in the market for you. Art is in the eye of the beholder, and it certainly isn’t up to me to tell you what photographs catch your fancy or what genre ‘is best.’

The key to collecting and valuation is judging the age and originality of a photo, knowing the famous photographers and getting following sales and auctions to get a handle on pricing.

If you are interested in learning how to identify and authenticate photographs– from the 1800s to today, cabinet cards to snapshots–, a recommended book is Judging the Authenticity of Photographs. I have to admit I’m the author. You’re also free to ask me questions.

Late 1920s 8x10 press photo of atress Garbo. Movie studios issues photos to promote their movies and movie stars.
Late 1920s 8×10 press photo of actress Garbo. Movie studios issues photos to promote their movies and movie stars. The photos will usually have studio information on front or back for easy identification.
early 1960s of Price of Wales Edward VII and his American wife Wallis Simpson showing their clear affection for their pug dog. The couple were famous pug fanciers. The photo was taken by Patrick Lichfield, an official Royal and Vogue magazine photographer and a Royal in his own right. The photo's back has Lichfield's stamp for easy identification.
Early 1960s of Price of Wales Edward VII and his American wife Wallis Simpson showing their clear affection for their pug dog. The couple was famous pug fanciers. The photo was taken by Patrick Lichfield, an official Royal and Vogue magazine photographer and a Royal in his own right. The photo’s back has Lichfield’s stamp for easy identification. The stamp from a famous photographer such as Luchfield with raise the photo’s value significantly
1954 news photo of Rocky Marciano versus Ezzard Charles heavyweight champion shot. The photo was shot by famed Sports Illustrated photographer Herb Scharffman and has his name on back.
1954 news photo of Rocky Marciano versus Ezzard Charles heavyweight champion shot. The photo was shot by famed Sports Illustrated photographer Herb Scharffman and has his name on back. The subject, great shot and famous photographer all add to the value.
Original Russian early 1900s cabinet card of the doomed Romanov family, including Czar Nicholos and Anastasia. A quaint family portrait with all the text on the cabinet in Russian.
Russian early 1900s cabinet card of the doomed Romanov family, including Czar Nicholos and Anastasia. A quaint family portrait with all the text on the cabinet in Russian. The cabinet card, with the photo on a larger cardboard mount, was a popular form photo photograph in the 1800s-early 1900s.
Joe Torre and Sadahara Oh comparing batting stances. Original Japanese photo from the New York Mets Tour of Japan. The photo came from a presentation album given by the Japanese to the President of the Mets' Shea Stadium.
Joe Torre and Sadaharu Oh comparing batting stances. Japanese photo from the New York Mets’ Tour of Japan. The photo came from a presentation album given by the Japanese to the President of Shea Stadium.
Thomas Edison working in his lab.
Thomas Edison working in his lab.
Union Generals George Custer and Alfred Pleasonton in Warrenton Virginia, October 9 1863.
Union Generals George Custer and Alfred Pleasonton in Warrenton Virginia, October 9 1863. This is a famous image shot by Civil War photographer Timothy O’Sullivan. The photo is an albumen print, the dominant form photography in the 1800s and well-known for its sepia tone.
Oversized 1930 movie studio portrait of actress Loretta Young
Oversized 1930 movie studio portrait of actress Loretta Young. This was issued by the movie studio to promote their star. Studios had a staff of talented photographers to take these photos.
1940s small snapshot of boxer Joe Louis trying to be friends with a tiny South American dog. This was photographed by Louis' trainer Mannie Seamon and kept for decades in Seamon's personal photo album. Amateur's snapshots of famous people rarely fetch high prices due to their diminutiveness, typically unprofessional images and the popular assumption that they are common. I've long been a lonesome fan (and avid buyer) of quality celebrity snapshot collections because of the candid, personal and unusual images.
1940s small snapshot of boxer Joe Louis trying to be friends with a tiny South American dog. This was photographed by Louis’ trainer Mannie Seamon and kept for decades in Seamon’s personal photo album.
Boston Red Sox baseball star Harry Hooper (1910s news service photo by George Grantham Bain). B
Boston Red Sox baseball star Harry Hooper 1910s news service photo by George Grantham Bain. Bain was a famous news and baseball photographer. His photos are usually small, postcard sized, and have his name stamped on back.
Rare polaroid test photo of swimsuit model Bridget Hall by famous French fashion photographer Elles Bensimon. This diminutive and unique photo is a production item from the making of the 1995 Bridget Hall Calendar. It was used to test the lighting before the formal shooting.
Polaroid test photo of swimsuit model Bridget Hall. This diminutive and unique photo is a production item from the making of the 1995 Bridget Hall Calendar. It was used to test the lighting before the formal shooting. Polaroids were used as test photos years back because they develop right away and on the spot. Each Polaroid is unique.
Chicago Cubs Teammates chewing tobacco, 1930s: (l-r) Billy Herman, Guy Bush, Bob Smith, Zach Taylor, Woody English. The photo was shot by famous team photographer George Burke and printed later by his business partner George Brace.
Chicago Cubs Teammates chewing tobacco, 1930s: (l-r) Billy Herman, Guy Bush, Bob Smith, Zach Taylor, Woody English. The photo was shot by famous team photographer George Burke and printed later by his business partner George Brace.

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About David Cycleback

David Cycleback is an art and artifacts historian and an internationally known authentication expert. He has authenticated artifacts for major institutions, was a writer for the standard academic reference Encyclopedia of Nineteenth Century Photography, and teaches courses in art authentication. Reprinted by Beijing's Three Shadows Art Center, his guides "Judging the Authenticity of Prints by the Masters" and "Judging the Authenticity of Photographs" were the first comprehensive books on the subjects published in China. He can be reached at [email protected].

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