What is in these boxes? 1500+ mostly black & white silver gelatin prints of photos by Fratelli Alanari, Italy, of various sizes, mounted on high quality card. The collection is stored in 45 linen-covered plywood boxes and weighs over 400kg. A selection, two or three prints from each box, will be exhibited in Photospace Gallery, 37 Courtenay Place, Wellington NZ, opening on Thursday 17th September, 5pm-7pm, until Tuesday 29th September 2020.

In 1852, Leopoldo Alinari founded a photographic studio. His brothers Giuseppe and Romualdo joined him two years later to establish Fratelli Alinari Fotografi Editori, a photographic workshop dedicated initially to the documentation of notable Italian paintings, sculptures, and architecture. Alinari is the world's oldest photographic company, and it still operates in Florence, Italy. www.alinari.it/en/about-us  (site uses cookies).

Back story: the 45 boxes of photos were disposed of by one of NZ's leading universities, and I purchased them c.2005 from the person who acquired them, and have stored them since then. This is their first viewing this century. (Note: one box containing a dozen lithographs and engravings has been removed from the exhibition.)

The prints are in overall very good condition. The card they are mounted on seems to be archivally stable - it has not yet deteriorated or affected the prints. The boxes, particularly the larger ones, have suffered a little due to storage. A number of the photographic prints have 'silvered', meaning the silver metal in the print has risen to the surface and is visible as a sheen when viewed at an angle, and this is more noticeable around the edges of a number of the prints. But for their age they are in great condition; and, as you will see, they are very beautiful.

As well as the silver-gelatin prints from photographic plates (which form the bulk of this large collection), there are a large number of reproductions of paintings and other artworks. I am unsure of the process used for the colour prints, but there is mention of the Collotype process (which I understand to be a monochrome process).

At this stage, I'm optimistic about finding a buyer for the entire set of photographs, as I don't wish them to be broken up. If this does not occur within a certain time, I'll consider selling the photographs by the box, or maybe individually. But it would be preferable to see them retained and valued as a collection.

Link: Alinari Photographers If you look at all the images photographed by Fratelli Alinari (Alinari bros.), some of the works on display here were photographed around 1890, up to the 1930s. Some of the other photographers' works appear in this collection also.

Viewing the collection:

• Please do not touch the photos or boxes. Don't be tempted to look through them!
• If you bring children to the gallery, please ensure they don't touch anything. The boxes and photos are displayed at ground level and are vulnerable to damage.
• Please do not take wine, other drinks or food into the gallery.
• If you are seriously interested in purchasing the collection, please arrange a time to view it.

Contact James Gilberd at Photospace Gallery, j.gilberd@xtra.co.nz  |  027 444 3899  |  04 382 9502

Below: installation photos and some individual examples:

Above: Heinz Sobiecki - Dance series, 2020. 5 unique prints on 8"x10" positive paper, made from 1970s negatives.

Above: Heinz Sobiecki - Flower series 2019. 3 unique silver-gelatin 8" x 10" prints made from Polaroid 4"x5" positive/negative film.

Above: Heinz Sobiecki - Fort Ballance series, 2012. - Series of 4 hand-coloured, unique 8" x 10" silver-gelatin prints.

These photographs and other works by Heinz Sobiecki are available for sale through Photospace Gallery, 37 Courtenay Place, Wellington. See www.heinzsobiecki.com for more images.