Auction Offer for Sotherby in 2024

OFFERING FOR A 2024 SOTHEBY AUCTION

This offering is for a possible 2024 auction in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of The International Center of Photography (ICP), founded in 1974 by Cornell Capa.

Inspired by the 50th anniversary, this proposal is made by John Chao, a long-time friend and Capa family member, and Anna Winand, Executive Secretary to Cornell Capa.

John Chao and Anna Winand are both founding members of ICP and have had a Capa family connection for close to sixty years. Chao’s 50 years of work as a photographer are intertwined with Cornell and Edie Capa’s guidance and support. As an established GEO and National Geographic photojournalist in the 70s and 80s, Chao quickly chose a career path less-traveled. In 1987, he left New York City and started a windsurfing magazine that quickly gained worldwide attention. While publishing for over a dozen years, he helped develop and manage a company that invented the sport of kiteboarding. In 2022, he was inducted to the Windsurfing Hall of Fame.

He stayed close to Cornell and Edie Capa but was a recluse to the world of photography.  He never exhibited or sold his work in galleries and held the Capa’s legacy in private. It was not until 2021, that his first book, “50_Year Vision Quest,” was published with an opus of songs for the Capas. In 2023, he exhibited his work for the first time at the Leica Gallery in West Hollywood.

Included in these offerings are notably one-of-a-kind originals from John Chao’s collection. They are selected as legacy bridges between the old and the new. These mega framed prints, will be offered and packaged together with the original vintage copy of the same. A thread of thematic inclusion, kinship and and even photographs taken by John Chao with Cornell Capa’s camera  will give the offering a narrative and justification. 

This effort is motivated by the securing of an individual offering and exhibit in honor of the memory of Cornell and Edie Capa, their International Concerned Photographer movement for reportage, and celebrating the 50-year anniversary of The International Center of Photography.

VINTAGE PRINTS FROM THE CONCERNED PHOTOGRAPHER, BOOK AND EXHIBIT

Description:
W Eugene Smith
1987
A Walk to the Paradise Garden. Gelatin silver print made by the photographer and used as press release for the Concerned Photographer book.

Gelatin silver print.
Image size: 8½” x 7 ½”
Print Size: 10 x 8″
Frame Size: 20¼ x 16¼”

Description:
Leonard Freed
Harlen, 1963
Gelatin silver print. Early vintage print made by the photographer for the Concerend Photograpers exhibit.

Image size: 22″ x 15″
Print Size: 24 x  18″
Frame Size: 28¾ x 20½”

Description:
Werner Bischof
1947
Gelatin silver print of crying child at orphanage in Hajduhadhaza, Hungary. Used in The Concerned Photographer exhibit at The Photographers’ Gallery first exhibit in 1971. 

Image size: 9¾ x 7¾””
Dry mounted on 13¾ x 11″ acid free board. 

Description:
André Kertész
Washington Square. New York 1954
Large vintage print from the Concerned Photographer’s exhibit. Printed by the photographer.

Gelatin Silver Print
Image size: 18¾ x 12½” 
Print Size: 20 x 16″
Frame Size: 28¾ x 20½”

Description:
André Kertész
Hungary 1919
Large early vintage print, printed by the photographer, exhibited in the first Concerned Photographer exhibit. 

Gelatin Silver Print.
Image size: 15 ¼ x 20″
Print Size: 16 x 20″
Frame Size: 30¾  x 26¾

Description:
Bruce Davidson
Paris, France 1956
Widow of Montmartre. Madame Fauchet

Early vintage print used in the Concerned Photographer exhibit
Image size: 9¾ x 14″
Print Size: 9¾ x 14″
Frame Size:

Description:
Werner Bischof
Peru 1954
Gelatin silver print used for The Concerned Photographer book and press release

Image size: 8 x 6½”
Print Size: 10″ x 8″
Frame Size: 16¾ x 12¾”

Description:
Hiroshi Hamaya
Tsugaru, Japan 1956
Gelatin silver print mounted on archival museum board, used for The Concerned Photographer 2 book and exhibit.

Image size: 10¾ x 7″
Print Size: 11¼ x 7½”  mounted on 8¼ x 12½” archival board
Frame Size:

Description:
Robert Capa
Moment of Death
Spainish Civil War, 1936

Large early vintage print from the Concerned Photographer’s exhibit, printed by Cornell Capa.
Image size: 13½ x 19¾”
Print Size: 14 x 20½”
Frame Size: 26¾ x 31″

Description:
Robert Capa
Omaha Beach, 1944
Early vintage Gelatin silver print used as press-release purposes printed by Cornell Capa

Image size: 6½ x 9¾”
Print Size: 8 x 10″
Frame:

Description:
Robert Capa
German Prisoner
Belgian, 1944

Gelatin Silver Print most probably printed by Igor
Image size: 9½ x 14″
Paper Size: 16″ x  20″
Frame: 

Description:
Robert Capa Indo-China, 1954 last image taken.
Gelatin silver print made by Cornell Capa

Image size: 8¾ x 12½”
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Frame Size

Description:
Robert Capa, Italy, 1944

Neapolitans painted anti-fascist slogans before Germans left.

Gelatin Silver Print
Image size: 
Print Size:
Frame Size

Description:
Elliott Erwitt. Florence, Italy1949

Vintage Gelatin silver print, printed with roll and frame numbers written on the back. Signed  by the photographer
Image size: 8 x 12″
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Frame Size: 16¾ x 20½”

ROBERT CAPA PHOTOS PRINTED FOR CORNELL CAPA BY JOHN CHAO (1978)

Description:
Robert Capa, D-Day, First Wave, Company E,
Omaha Beach, June 6, 1944

Gelatin silver print
Image size:  
Print Size: 8 x 10″

Description:
Robert Capa
Gelatin silver print

Image size: 7¼ x 10½”
Print Size: 11 x 14″

Description:
Robert Capa
Gelatin silver print

Image size: 7¼ x 10½”
Print Size: 11 x 14″

Description:
Robert Capa
Fighting in Paris

Image size: 7¼ x 10½”
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Frame: 16¾ x 12¾

Description:
Robert Capa
Gelatin silver print

Image size:  10½ x 7¼”
Print Size: 14 x 11″

Description:
Robert Capa
Gelatin silver print

Image size:  10½ x 7¼”
Print Size: 14 x 11″

Description:
Robert Capa

Image size:  10½ x 7¼”
Print Size: 14 x 11″

Description:
Robert Capa

Image size:  10½ x 7¼”
Print Size: 14 x 11″
Frame Size

Description:
Robert Capa, Last Man Dying, 1945

Gelatin silver print
Image size: 10½ x 7¼”
Print Size: 14 x 11″
Frame Size

Description:
Robert Capa
Battle of the Bulge 1944
Gelatin silver print

Image size: 7¼ x 10½”
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Frame Size

Description:
Robert Capa
1948
Gelatin silver print

Image size: 7¼ x 10½”
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Frame Size

Description:
Robert Capa
Battle of the Bulge 1944
Gelatin silver print

Image size: 7¼ x 10½”
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Frame Size

Description:
Robert Capa
Gelatin silver print

Image size: 7¼ x 10½”
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Frame Size

Description:

Robert Capa
Liberation Day, Paris
Gelatin silver print

Image size: 9 x 13½”
Print Size: 11 x 14″

Description:

Robert Capa
Liberation, 1944
Gelatin silver print

Image size: 9 x 13½”
Print Size: 11 x 14″

Description:
Robert Capa
Liberation, Paris 1944
Gelatin silver print

Image size: 9 x 13½”
Print Size: 11 x 14″

Description:
Robert Capa
Liberation, Paris 1944

Image size: 9 x 13½”
Print Size: 11 x 14″”
Frame Size

Description:
Robert Capa
Liberation, Paris 1944

Image size: 9 x 13½”
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Frame Size

Description:
Robert Capa
Liberation, Paris 1944

Image size: 13½ x 9″
Print Size: 14 x 9″
Frame Size

Description:
Robert Capa
Liberation, Paris 1944

Image size: 9 x 13½”
Print Size: 11 x 14″”
Frame Size

Description:
Henri Cartier Bresson, Peter and Paul’s Fortres on the Neva River, Leningard, Soviet Union,1973


Gelatin silver print with mounting seal overing the back. Hand written “Leningrad”, Viking Press, “13147” and “00”.

Image size: 10 x 6¾”
Print Size: 8 x 10″
Frame Size: 

Description:
Henri Cartier Bresson
1948
Gold Rush: Last days of Kuomintang, regime in Shanghai, China

Uncertain of origin but not a geratin silver print. From Edie Capa collection
Image size: 9¾ x 14½”
Print Size: 14 x 18″
Frame Size

Description:
Marc Riboud, 
Antique Dealer’s Show Windows, Beijing.
China, 1965

 Early vintage print used in The Concerned Photographer 2 book. 
Gelatin Silver Print
Image size: 6¼ x 9½” 
Print Size: 8 x 10″
Frame Size: 11 x 14″

Description:
John Chao
Windsurfing Senator John Kerry at Nashawn Island, MA, 1997. When David Letterman asked Barak Obama why Kerry lost the 2004 presidential election, he answered with one word, “windsurfing!” 

Mega Edition: 1/1
Image size: 40″ x 26.5″
Print Size: 44″ x 30″
Frame Size: 52″ x 40

Description:
John Chao
1984 Democratic

Mega Edition: 1/1
Image size: 40″ x 26.5″
Print Size: 44″ x 30″
Frame Size: 52″ x 40

Description:
John Chao
Vintage print signed by Senator Ted Kennedy describing his moment at the 1980 Democratic Convention. Photograph appeared in the cover of New York Times Weekend Review section and widely published around the world. Carter won the nomination but went on to loose the general election to Ronald Regan.

Print: 1 of 1
Image size: 8½ x 11″
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Markings:  “To John Chao. I think I was waving at John Kerry and urging him to run for the senate! It was a good evening although not everyone seemed to enjoy it! With Friendship! Ted Kennedy New York 1980-97”

Description:
Leonard Freed
Harlen, 1963
Gelatin silver print. Early vintage print made by the photographer for the Concerend Photograpers exhibit.

Image size: 22 x  15″
Print Size: 22 x 18″
Frame Size: 28¾ x 20½”

In the summer of 1975, Leonard Freed, and John Chao went to the beach where Robert Capa photographed Picasso and Françoise Gilot. They found it to be a nude beach. While Freed contemplated a swim, Chao became enchanted by the French joie de vivre and the sport of windsurfing

Their homes in Garrison became a popular destination for many manhattan based photographers and editors. This included a somewhat discouraged photographer Steve McCurry, before his encounter with the Afghan girl, Sharbat Gula.

 

Description:
John Chao
Pussy Galore, Arles France, 1975.

Mega Edition: 1/1
Image size: 40″ x 26.5″
Print Size: 44″ x 30″
Frame Size: 52″ x 40

CORNELL CAPA

Description:

Description:
John Chao
Cornell Capa On Vacation, MEGA Print: 2023

MEGA Edition: 1/1
Image size: approx 44 x78″
Print Size: 48″ x 82″
Frame Size: 66 x 98″

Description:
Original Print: 1988

ORIGINAL Edition: 1/1
Image size: 10″ x 9″
Frame Size: 14″ x11″

Description:
Cornell Capa

Gelatin silver print
Image size: 8¾ x 13¾”
Print Size: 11 x 14″

Description:

Cornell Capa

Image size: 8½ x 10¾” Mounted on 11×14″ rag board
Frame Size: 16¾ x 20¾

Description:
Cornell Capa
The Bolshoi Ballet School
Moscow, Russia

Vintage gelatin silver Press Release Print, printed by the photographer.
Image size: 6¼ x 9¼”
Print Size: 10 x8″
Frame: 12¾ x 16¾”

Description:
Cornell Capa
Hebrew Lesson
Brooklyn, NY, 1955

Vintage gelatin silver print used for book production, printed by the photographer.
Image size: 8¼ x 12″
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Frame Size

Description:
John Chao
California, 1975 with a camera borrowed from Cornell Capa

Edition: 1/3
Image size: 37″ x 60″
Print Size:  44″ x 70″
Frame Size: 49″ x 73

Description:
John Chao, Harry Lunn Father Fin-Art Photography, 1981
As exemplified by the William Eggleston photo I purchase in 1974 for $350, Harry Lunn, was the first art dealer to bring photography into the Fine Art market.  This photo at an ICP Awards Banquet in 1981, reveals the hidden “spook” side of the “Father Fin-Art Photography,” For many years he worked for the CIA while falling in love with photography. He suggested I should pursuit Fine Art Photography but I opted for Photojournalism.

Mega Edition: 1/1
Image size: 40″ x 26.5″
Print Size: 44″ x 30″
Frame Size: 52″ x 40

Original Vintage Edition: 1/4
Image size: 
Print Size: 
Frame Size: 

Photo to come

Description:
William Eggleston
First portfolio created by Harry Lun in 1974

Edition: 1/14
Image size: 
Print Size: 16″ x 20″
Frame Size: 

Description:
John Chao
The Last Commercial Fishermen of East Hampton, 1985

One of three original signed print by the commercial fishermen of East Hampton, Long Island. This print was made in 1986 by exposing 30 negatives to one sheet of paper. The three finished prints were then taken to each of the fishermen for their signature.
Image size: 22″ x 18″
Print Size: 24″ x 20″
Frame Size:  25″ x 31″

This print is offered in conjunction to a modern remake created in 2018.
Image size: 70″ x 43″
Print Size: 74″ x 44″
Frame Size: 88″ x 60″

Adelaide de Menil hired John Chao and Danny Lyons to document the lives of commercial fishermen of East Hampton from 1982 to 1985. Chao’s photos were used to champion the rights of the commercial fishing industry and displayed at the New York State Legislature. The project became the book “Men’s Lives” with Peter Mathiessen.

Description:
John Chao
The last commercial fisherman of the Hudson River — 1985 assignment Geo Magazine. Vintage Illford Portriga print

Edition: 1/10
Image size: 16″ x 11″
Print Size: 20″ x 16″
Frame Size: 21″ x 17″

Anna Winnand Collection

Seventeen photographs by Cornell Capa of Adlai Stevenson and President John F. Kennedy.

Description:
Cornell Capa
Portrait of Adlai Stevenson, 1952
Early gelatin silver print (printed no later than 1966) 

Image size: 8½ x 11″
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Markings: Stamped “Photograph By / Cornell Capa / © 1966 MAGNUM PHOTOS / 72 West 45th St=reet, N.Y.C. 10036” and annotated “Capa p.39” in graphite print verso. Original print available for photo at a later date.

Description:
Cornell Capa
Portrait of Adlai Stevenson, 1952
Early gelatin silver print (printed no later than 1966) 

Image size: 8½ x 11″
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Markings: Stamped “Photograph By / Cornell Capa / © 1966 MAGNUM PHOTOS / 72 West 45th St=reet, N.Y.C. 10036” and annotated “Capa p.39” in graphite print verso. Original print available for photo at a later date.

Description:
Cornell Capa
Portrait of Adlai Stevenson, 1952
Early gelatin silver print (printed no later than 1966) 

Image size: 8½ x 11″
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Markings: Stamped “Photograph By / Cornell Capa / © 1966 MAGNUM PHOTOS / 72 West 45th St=reet, N.Y.C. 10036” and annotated “Capa p.39” in graphite print verso. Original print available for photo at a later date.

Description:
Cornell Capa
Portrait of Adlai Stevenson, 1952
Early gelatin silver print (printed no later than 1966) 

Image size: 8½ x 11″
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Markings: Stamped “Photograph By / Cornell Capa / © 1966 MAGNUM PHOTOS / 72 West 45th St=reet, N.Y.C. 10036” and annotated “Capa p.39” in graphite print verso. Original print available for photo at a later date.

Description:
Cornell Capa
Portrait of Adlai Stevenson, 1952
Early gelatin silver print (printed no later than 1966) 

Image size: 8½ x 11″
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Markings: Stamped “Photograph By / Cornell Capa / © 1966 MAGNUM PHOTOS / 72 West 45th St=reet, N.Y.C. 10036” and annotated “Capa p.39” in graphite print verso. Original print available for photo at a later date.

Description:
Cornell Capa
Portrait of Adlai Stevenson, 1952
Early gelatin silver print (printed no later than 1966) 

Image size: 8½ x 11″
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Markings: Stamped “Photograph By / Cornell Capa / © 1966 MAGNUM PHOTOS / 72 West 45th St=reet, N.Y.C. 10036” and annotated “Capa p.39” in graphite print verso. Original print available for photo at a later date.

Description:
Cornell Capa
Portrait of Adlai Stevenson, 1952
Early gelatin silver print (printed no later than 1966) 

Image size: 8½ x 11″
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Markings: Stamped “Photograph By / Cornell Capa / © 1966 MAGNUM PHOTOS / 72 West 45th St=reet, N.Y.C. 10036” and annotated “Capa p.39” in graphite print verso. Original print available for photo at a later date.

Description:
Cornell Capa
Portrait of Adlai Stevenson, 1952
Early gelatin silver print (printed no later than 1966) 

Image size: 8½ x 11″
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Markings: Stamped “Photograph By / Cornell Capa / © 1966 MAGNUM PHOTOS / 72 West 45th St=reet, N.Y.C. 10036” and annotated “Capa p.39” in graphite print verso. Original print available for photo at a later date.

Description:
Cornell Capa
Portrait of Adlai Stevenson, 1952
Early gelatin silver print (printed no later than 1966) 

Image size: 8½ x 11″
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Markings: Stamped “Photograph By / Cornell Capa / © 1966 MAGNUM PHOTOS / 72 West 45th St=reet, N.Y.C. 10036” and annotated “Capa p.39” in graphite print verso. Original print available for photo at a later date.

Description:
Cornell Capa
Portrait of Adlai Stevenson, 1952
Early gelatin silver print (printed no later than 1966) 

Image size: 8½ x 11″
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Markings: Stamped “Photograph By / Cornell Capa / © 1966 MAGNUM PHOTOS / 72 West 45th St=reet, N.Y.C. 10036” and annotated “Capa p.39” in graphite print verso. Original print available for photo at a later date.

Description:
Cornell Capa
Portrait of Adlai Stevenson, 1952
Early gelatin silver print (printed no later than 1966) 

Image size: 8½ x 11″
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Markings: Stamped “Photograph By / Cornell Capa / © 1966 MAGNUM PHOTOS / 72 West 45th St=reet, N.Y.C. 10036” and annotated “Capa p.39” in graphite print verso. Original print available for photo at a later date.

Description:
Cornell Capa
Portrait of Adlai Stevenson, 1952
Early gelatin silver print (printed no later than 1966) 

Image size: 8½ x 11″
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Markings: Stamped “Photograph By / Cornell Capa / © 1966 MAGNUM PHOTOS / 72 West 45th St=reet, N.Y.C. 10036” and annotated “Capa p.39” in graphite print verso. Original print available for photo at a later date.

Description:
Cornell Capa
Portrait of Adlai Stevenson, 1952
Early gelatin silver print (printed no later than 1966) 

Image size: 8½ x 11″
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Markings: Stamped “Photograph By / Cornell Capa / © 1966 MAGNUM PHOTOS / 72 West 45th St=reet, N.Y.C. 10036” and annotated “Capa p.39” in graphite print verso. Original print available for photo at a later date.

Description:
Cornell Capa
Portrait of Adlai Stevenson, 1952
Early gelatin silver print (printed no later than 1966) 

Image size: 8½ x 11″
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Markings: Stamped “Photograph By / Cornell Capa / © 1966 MAGNUM PHOTOS / 72 West 45th St=reet, N.Y.C. 10036” and annotated “Capa p.39” in graphite print verso. Original print available for photo at a later date.

Description:
Cornell Capa
Portrait of Adlai Stevenson, 1952
Early gelatin silver print (printed no later than 1966) 

Image size: 8½ x 11″
Print Size: 11 x 14″
Markings: Stamped “Photograph By / Cornell Capa / © 1966 MAGNUM PHOTOS / 72 West 45th St=reet, N.Y.C. 10036” and annotated “Capa p.39” in graphite print verso. Original print available for photo at a later date.

Annie Liebovitz

Prints made by ANNIE LIEBOVITZ
for JOHN CHAO for his AMERICAN WINDSURFER MAGAZINE

Description:
Annie Liebowiz

Image size: 11¾ x 8¼”
Print Size: 14 x 11″
Frame Size

Description:
Arthur Rothsein
Dust Storm, 1936 Cimarron County, Oklahoma.

Gelatin silver print  #144/300
Image size: 18¾ x 18¾”
Print Size:  20 x 24″
Frame Size: 26¾ x 28″

Description:
John Chao
Standing Rock, 
Early gelatin silver print (printed no later than 1966) 

EDITION: 1/3
Image size: 96½ x 16½”
Print Size: 101″ x 24″
Frame Size: 106″ x 27″ Markings: Stamped 

Description:
John Chao
Requiem of a Morning Feast, Serengeti, Tanzania — June 3, 2022

Edition: 1/3
Image size: 42 x 44″
Print Size: 44″ x 50″
Frame Size: 54 x 70″

Description:
John Chao
Original Tiffany photos made for the Metropolitan Museum in 1985. The source of all Tiffany Posters. 

EDITION: 1/3
Image size: 96½ x 16½”
Print Size: 101″ x 24″
Frame Size: 106″ x 27″ Markings: Stamped