- Cross reference: Picture is distributed via EPA (European Pressphoto Agency) and can be downloaded free of charge at: http://www.presseportal.de/pm/65760?keygroup=bild
VIENNA
,
Austria
,
Jan. 27
/CNW/ - On the 29th of May WestLicht Photographica Auction in
Vienna
,
Austria
will auction a historical sensation: a 'Daguerreotype' - the first commercially-produced camera!
The wooden sliding-box camera was made in
Paris
in
September 1839
by
Alphonse Giroux
,
Louis Jacques
Mande Daguerre's brother-in-law. Daguerre, the inventor of the first practicable photographic process, signed the camera to verify its authenticity. Only five days after the first public announcement of photography on
August 24th
1839, the first advertisement for the 'Daguerreotype' is printed in the 'Journal des Debats'. There is no record of the total number of cameras that Giroux produced, but since cheaper and improved cameras came onto the market relatively quickly, it is assumed that the numbers were very limited. Only very few of these cameras are known to exist worldwide and all of those are in public museum collections.
The Giroux 'Daguerreotype' up for auction has been found recently. It was in private ownership in northern
Germany
for generations and has never before been documented. The outstanding original condition of the 170 year-old apparatus is remarkable. Never before has a camera of this kind been offered for sale by auction. An original manual in German language from 1839 is also included in this sensational sale. It is expected that WestLicht Auctions' own world record price of
576,000 Euros
for a camera will be significantly exceeded. Starting price is Euro 200,000, the estimate is Euro 500,000 - 700,000.
Detailed press information and additional press images: http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=184242(less than)=3
All press material may be used for publications related to WestLicht Photographica Auction only.
For further information: Martin Reinhart, WestLicht, Photographica Auction, Westbahnstrasse 40, 1070 Vienna, AUSTRIA, T: +43-1-523-56-59-16, [email protected]
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