I have some old photos.  How much are they worth?

Photographs by some of the early photographers can sell for several thousand £s at auction.  However, many of the small photos mounted on card from the 19th century  (both portraits and landscapes) do not fetch high prices.   I find that, here in Edinburgh,  it is still possible to buy photos in good condition at antique fares and second-hand shops for about the following prices:

[£3 = approx.US$5]

50p to £1 each (carte de visite)
£1 or £2 each (cabinet prints)  

£3 to £5 each (stereo cards)

Subjects of particular interest or photos that are particularly appealing can sometimes cost considerably more.

I do not have the expertise to give any advice beyond the above on individual photos.  I recommend a contacting a good auction house that deals in old photographs that are likely to be particularly valuable, or visits to antique fairs or checking eBay auctions prices to determine the possible value of other photos.

Prices requested on internet sites can sometimes be much higher than above.  I don't know whether or not the photos are actually sold at these prices.

2.

I have an old photo by A W Elson. 

-    What is known about this company?

-    How much is my photograph worth?

Background

The company appears to have produced large carbon prints, from around the 1890s until 1925, possibly over a longer period.

Many of their photos are in large oak frames.  Subjects include reproductions of portrait paintings and a series of pictures of Indians.

Value

I do not know how much any of the A W Elson photos are worth.   Do you know?  If so, please e-mail me.  Thank you

Questions

Here are some of the questions that I have been asked about A W Elson photos.

Please email me if you have answers to any of these questions, or if you can tell me anything about the company, A W Elson.

I will pass on any relevant details that you give me to the owners of the A W Elson photos,  and will add the details to this web site.

-  Peter Stubbs

A W Elson Questions

I have been asked many questions about A W Elson photographs.

Below, are thumbnail images of some of the photos.

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3.

I have an old stereo photos by Underwood & Underwood. 

-    What is known about this company?

-    How much is my photograph worth?

Background

The company appears to have produced many sets of stereo photos of views from around the world, in the 1890s and early 1900s.

The images in Underwood & Underwood stereos are normally high quality, retaining lots of detail in the scene, which looks all the more impressive when seen through a stereo viewer.

In almost all cased, sets of Underwood & Underwood stereo views that I have seen have been in very good condition.

Value

I have bought a number of Underwood & Underwood stereo views, paying between £1 and £4 per image, here in Scotland   I don't know how these prices vary around the world.

Question

Help please?

I have seen large book on the history of stereo cards, probably published around the 1990s.  I would expect this to include details of Underwood & Underwood - perhaps what became of the company, perhaps details of the range of cards that they published.

If you are aware of this book, can you email me and tell me its title and publisher, as I believe that would help me to answer some of the questions that I receive from time to time in emails and in the address book.

Thank you.  - Peter Stubbs

Answer

Thank you to KR who replied:

"I believe the book you are thinking of is titled: Stereo Views - An Illustrated History & Price Guide by John Waldsmith. It was originally published in 1991 and a second edition was published in 2002. It also includes prices for View-Master reels, etc. It is NOT an alll-inclusive price guide, but does give a good idea of the average worth of cards on various subjects."

KR, August 12, 2007