The upcoming May auction at Uppsala Auktionskammare includes a large section of Swedish vintage photography in the catalogue. Over 30 exclusive works by notable Swedish photographers, such as Lennart Nilsson, Kary H. Lasch, Hans Hammarskiöld, Anna Riwkin, Leif Erik Nygårds, Gunnar Smoliansky, and more, are featured. 

This significant focus on photography by Sweden’s leading auction house serves as a strong indicator of the rising value and collector demand for Swedish vintage photography.

Modern & Contemporary Art

Live Auction:
Wednesday 14 May at noon (CEST): International Art + Prints & Photography

Viewing: 6 – 12 May, open weekdays 10 AM – 6 PM and weekends 11 AM – 5 PM.

Saleroom: Nybrogatan 20, Stockholm

View the catalogue here

While some older photographs bear signatures or ink stamps, others feature a more subtle mark of origin: the blind stamp. A blind stamp, also called an embossed stamp, is a colorless impression pressed into the paper, leaving a raised or indented mark. They are usually found on the photograph’s mounting board or in a corner of the actual photo print. The impressions often feature the photographer’s name, studio logo, or sometimes just initials or a symbol.  … What is a blind stamp?

Early photographic processes, such as albumen silver prints, relied on silver-based compounds that were prone to fading. To address this issue, chemical toning was introduced, not only enhancing the longevity of prints but also imparting distinctive color characteristics.

Between approximately 1855 and 1900, sepia and gold toning were the most widely used techniques. In sepia toning, the silver compounds in the print are converted into silver sulfides, which are far more stable over time. This process produces the characteristic warm brown tones and soft contrast that define sepia-toned photographs.

Gold toning, on the other hand, replaces the silver with gold, resulting in colors that can range from purplish-blue to reddish-brown. This method not only provided a richer tonal variation but also significantly improved the archival quality of prints.

When keeping a photography collection, proper care is essential to maintain the condition and longevity of the photographs. Exposure to light, humidity, dust, and improper handling can cause fading, discoloration, and physical damage. By following these expert guidelines on framing, storage, and handling, you can ensure your photography collection remains in excellent condition for future generations.

Frame your photographs properly

Proper framing not only enhances the visual appeal of your photographs, it also serves as a protective barrier against environmental damage. Follow these key principles when framing your images:

• Use UV-protective glass: Sunlight and artificial light can cause photographs to fade over time. By opting for a high-quality protective glass, or acrylic glass, with UV-filtering properties, you can block out harmful UV rays and preserve your photos’ vibrancy. The best options are often labeled as “art glass” or “museum glass”, which is also anti-reflective.  
• Use acid-free materials: Naturally occurring acid in paper and framing materials can cause yellowing and deterioration and ruin your photographs over time. Therefore, ensure that all materials in direct contact with the photograph are 100% acid-free. Ensure that mat boards, mounting tape, photo corners, and backboards are labeled as acid-free or archival quality.
• Seal frames properly: A well-sealed frame prevents dust, moisture, and pollutants from reaching the print. The front glass should fit snugly, and the gap between the backboard and frame should be sealed with archival-quality sealing tape. 

Hang your photographs safely

Where and how you display your photographs can significantly impact their longevity. When deciding where to hang your framed works, consider these factors:

• Avoid direct sunlight: Prolonged exposure to sunlight can lead to fading and discoloration. Choose a shaded wall or a location with controlled lighting to hang your photographs.
• Maintain stable temperatures: Fluctuating temperatures can cause expansion and contraction in photographs, leading to warping or cracking. Keep photos away from direct heat sources like radiators, fireplaces, and air conditioners. Aim for a consistent room temperature between 15-23°C (59-73°F) – the cooler the better. 
• Control humidity: High humidity can lead to mold growth, curling, and staining on photographs. Avoid hanging photos in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms, where humidity levels are typically high. Aim for a relative humidity of 30-50%. A dehumidifier can help control moisture levels in humid climates.
• Secure wall mounting: Ensure your frames are securely hung to prevent accidental falls, which can cause significant damage. Use appropriate wall anchors and hooks based on the weight of the frame and the type of wall. Regularly check the stability of your frames.
• Air circulation: Poor air circulation can lead to moisture buildup behind the frame. Ensure sufficient airflow around your framed photos.
  

Store your photographs safely

Improper storage can lead to fading, warping, and deterioration. Follow these practices to prevent damage:

• Use archival-quality materials: Store photographs in acid-free archival boxes, sleeves, or folders. Polyester, polypropylene, and polyethylene sleeves are recommended for plastic sleeves. Older plastic sleeves are often made of PVC plastic, which is directly harmful to photos because they contain plasticizers, which will degrade over time and release harmful chemicals.
• Maintain a cool, dry, and dark environment: Store photographs in a cool, dry, and dark place to minimize fading and deterioration. Avoid attics, basements, and garages, which are prone to temperature and humidity fluctuations.
• Flat vs. upright storage: Store large prints horizontally in archival boxes to prevent curling and creases. Small prints can be stored upright in archival boxes or archival photo albums.
• Separate photos from other materials: Avoid storing photographs with other items, such as newspaper clippings, which can contain acids that damage photos.

Handling  your photographs safely

Frequent handling of prints increases the risk of smudges, creases, and physical damage. To keep your photographs in top condition:

• Wear cotton or nitrile gloves: Oils and dirt from bare hands can degrade the print surface over time. Wearing clean cotton or nitrile gloves minimizes this risk.
• Handle by the edges: Always pick up photos by their edges to avoid direct contact with the image area.
• Use a clean, dry surface: When inspecting or organizing prints, place them on a dust-free and dry surface to prevent accidental stains or scratches.
  

Additional preservation tips

• Regular inspections: Periodically inspect your photography collection for signs of damage, such as fading, mold, or warping.
• Professional conservation: For valuable or irreplaceable photographs, consult with a professional conservator for specialized care and restoration.
• Digitization: Secure your photos with digital backups and establish clear provenance. A digital database lets you link essential information to each image.

When collecting photography, provenance is a crucial factor that determines a photograph’s value. In an era when later prints, reproductions, and misrepresented artworks are widespread, proper documentation and expert verification is essential to understanding whether a photograph is worth adding to your collection.

Provenance refers to the documented history of a photograph – its ownership record, exhibition history, and any supporting documentation that connects it to the photographer or its original period. A well-documented provenance enhances a photograph’s legitimacy and can significantly impact its value in the art market.

A strong provenance not only confirms the authenticity of a photograph but also helps establish its historical and artistic significance. It provides insight into a photograph’s journey through time, revealing how it has been valued, preserved, and interpreted by previous owners, institutions, and experts. The older the photograph, the importance of its provenance increases.

Key elements of provenance

The provenance for a photograph may include:

• Documentation of exhibitions – Records of gallery and museum exhibitions where the photograph has been featured.
• Publication history – Evidence that the photograph has appeared in books, magazines, or catalogues.
• Ownership records – A list of previous owners, especially notable collectors or institutions.
• Sales records – Original receipts or invoices from galleries, auction houses, or previous sales transactions.
• Certificate of authenticity– Signed by the photographer or a trusted expert, providing validation of the print’s originality and history.

Each of these elements adds relevance and credibility to a photograph, making it more desirable to collectors, museums, and investors.

Example of a provenance record in our archive for the vintage photograph above.

Why provenance affects value

Having a full record of a photograph’s history, stating all key factors that mark its significance, will directly influence the value of this photograph. Any buyer, from photo enthusiasts or established collectors, will pay more for a photograph with proven artistic and historical relevance – and foremost, the assurance that what they are buying is the real thing.

In the world of photography, the term “vintage photo print” holds significant weight. But what exactly constitutes a vintage print, and why is it so highly sought after by collectors? … What is a vintage photo print and why is it so valuable?

Are you still looking for Christmas presents? Don’t forget that rare vintage photos are perfect gifts!

We will keep our showroom open for booked visits until December 18th, with the possibility to come by even during Saturday and Sunday.

Book an appointment for a personal walkthrough of our collection by sending a message to:
info@vintagephotos.art

You can also call us at:
+46 70-797 00 24

Welcome to explore our archive!

A new book, Histories of Fetal Knowledge Production in Sweden: Medicine, Politics, and Public Controversy, 1530–2020, edited by Solveig Jülich, professor of History of Science and Ideas at Uppsala University, examines how fetal research and imagery have shaped medicine, ethics, and society in Sweden over five centuries. This multidisciplinary work investigates the handling of fetuses, reproductive organs, and pregnant bodies for scientific and medical purposes, from the development of vaccines to public debates on abortion.

Lennart Nilsson’s iconic images of the developing fetus are central to this historical narrative. This book explores how Nilsson’s groundbreaking photographs influenced visual culture, redefining perceptions of pregnancy and sparking debates on reproductive ethics. The book also explores the public controversies surrounding the use of aborted fetuses in research and the evolving regulations addressing these ethical challenges.

Richly illustrated, the book offers new insights into the intersection of medical science, visual media, and public controversy. From an academic perspective, it underscores the historical impact of Nilsson’s work in understanding reproduction and the human body.

This November, we’ll be present at Paris Photo, the world’s leading photography fair. As experienced art advisors specializing in fine art photography, we offer our wide services to support collectors and sellers at this prestigious event, 6th – 10th November.

Whether you’re seeking to invest in unique pieces, navigate the complex art market, or need help finding buyers for photos in your collection, our expertise can enhance your experience at Paris Photo.

Contact us today at info@vintagephotos.art to schedule a consultation and discuss your goals.

We hope to see you in Paris!

The child collecting birch twigs is Elle Kari. She was a young Sámi girl from Lapland whom photographer Anna Riwkin met while documenting traditional Sámi culture. Elle Kari’s life with her family in northern Sweden became the focus of a children’s photo book. Anna Riwkin humbly portrayed Elle Kari’s childhood in up-close and personal pictures, and Elly Jannes authored the story. The book, called Elle Kari, achieved global success.

Anna Riwkin continued photographing children growing up in various cultures around the world, creating 15 children’s photo books in the Children’s Everywhere series. The texts of many of these books were written by Astrid Lindgren.

This original vintage photo of Elle Kari, taken by Anna Riwkin in 1949-1950, will be on display in the exhibition “Untitled Nature” at Picture This Gallery, opening 26/6.

Explore the exhibition

We are working on a comprehensive project of digitalizing our entire collection of photographs. With over 100.000 photo prints in our archive, this is a big project that will span over a few years. We see this as an essential task in our mission of preserving Swedish photo history for the future. This digital record will also be a very important tool for provenance and certification of works. Additionally, it can help researchers and scholars in their studies.

Each original photo print from our archive is digitally photographed, front and back, and is then given a unique identification number. In our system, we add all essential information, such as name of work, photographer, year, technique, if featured in publications, provenance, etc.

Vintage Photos is proud to announce the acquisition of Lennart Nilsson Photography’s archive of original vintage photographs produced during his career from the 1940s to the 2000s. This extensive archive includes images from his early reportages, portraits, and the foundation of the book Ett barn blir till (A Child is Born). With the commitment to preserve and celebrate the rich heritage of Swedish photographic history, Vintage Photos is taking on the responsibility of managing this extraordinary collection.

Lennart Nilsson is considered one of the most successful photographers in history. As a pioneer of scientific photography, he pushed the boundaries of what was technically possible, particularly in his best-known works about the time before our birth. Always curious, with his journalistic mindset and desire to tell stories, he captivated millions of people all around the world with his images. From a career spanning over seven decades, his life’s work represents an invaluable contribution to the history of photography. With the acquisition of his original works, Vintage Photos aims to secure and pass on Nilsson’s groundbreaking photographic work to future generations.

“Lennart Nilsson is by far the greatest Swedish photographer of all time. With a huge international interest in his images, our vision is that as many people as possible will be able to enjoy his work. Based on this acquired collection, we are currently working on compiling exhibitions with material that’s never been shown to the public before,” says Tomas Josephson, Photography Expert at Vintage Photos.

As a leading collector and expert in historical Swedish photography, Vintage Photos is dedicated to honoring pioneering Swedish photographers by showcasing their work. With one of the biggest private collections of Swedish photography from the 19th to 20th centuries, Vintage Photos is working hard to safely archive and make this history accessible to everyone. In an ongoing extensive work, a digital archive is now being created to make it easier for people to explore the rich heritage of Swedish photography. This project is led by Tomas Josephson with support from digital entrepreneur Fredrik Adolfsson.

“We are delighted to work with Vintage Photos. It is with great confidence that we hand over these photographs, as we know they are now in safe hands and will continue to inspire and educate many future generations,” says Anne Fjellström, Operations Manager at Lennart Nilsson Photography AB.

The concept of the “public fetus” was coined by feminist scholars in the 1980s and 1990s. It referred to today’s visual culture of pregnancy and fetal images, which are often traced back to the 1960s when Lennart Nilsson’s photographs of human development were published in Life magazine. The images of a growing fetus changed people’s ways of looking at life, revolutionized sex education, and played a major role in the sexual revolution of the 1970s, while also being used by the conservative anti-abortion movement.

The new book Rethinking the Public Fetus, Historical Perspectives on the Visual Culture of Pregnancy, edited by Elisabet Björklund and Solveig Jülich, gives a new and deepened view of the “public fetus”. Scholars from a range of disciplines explore this multifaceted history by highlighting visualizations of pregnant and fetal bodies in a variety of geographical and cultural contexts, spanning a period of more than 300 years.

Featuring much of Lennart Nilsson’s work, this book is well worth reading for those who want to dive deeper into the effects of his photography on today’s society, as well as giving the reader an extensive perspective of the subject of the public fetus.

In support of Project Nima’s charity action for children in Ghana, Vintage Photos donated a Lennart Nilsson photograph of Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini in Rome, taken in 1950. After a lively bidding, the picture was sold for 41,000 SEK.

In this second episode of our online series The Vintage Vault, we will walk you through our exhibition Guillaume Berggren – Out of Constantinople.

The exhibition is shown at Picture This Gallery 23rd of February – 16th of April, 2023

In this first episode of our online series The Vintage Vault, we will walk you through our exhibition Folkdräkter – Eurenius & Quist.

The exhibition is shown at Picture This Gallery 23rd of February – 16th of April, 2023