This week, a collection of photographs by the renowned landscape photographer Ansel Adams sold for $4,567,680 at auction house Sotheby’s, far more than the pre-sale estimate of $1.7 to $2.8 million. Due to fierce bidding, the auction broke 41 previous records for Ansel Adams collection.
Images printed by Adams himself were donated to The Friends of Photography, a non-profit organisation that served as an inspiration to numerous photographers from 1967 until its dissolution in 2001, and were included in the auction Ansel Adams: A Legacy Photographs from the Meredith Collection. 77% of the 96 pieces in the collection, which was overseen by Tom and Lynn Meredith, sold for more than their pre-sale high estimates.
According to Sotheby’s, the auction shattered 15 more records for 1970s prints in Adams’ usual size formats, and 41 of the pieces sold for new record-high prices. According to the renowned auction house, this demonstrates the continued high demand for prints by Ansel Adams. It is remarkable and unexpected that all 96 lots sold.
Aspens, New Mexico sold for $720,000
Many of Adams’ most well-known photographs, such as Aspens, New Mexico (Vertical), which sold for an astounding $720,000—more than double its high estimate—were included in the Meredith Collection, despite the fact that his portfolio is extensive and quite diverse. Additionally, the five-image Surf Sequence series sold for a hefty price, reaching a final hammer price of $576,000, well beyond its high estimate of $300,000.
Sotheby’s previous record high for this particular image, set in 2010, was more than six times the $96,000 sale price of The Snake River & the Tetons, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
But in 2020, a still-unbroken world record for the highest price ever bought for an Ansel Adams print was set when an even more iconic photograph from the same location sold for $988,000.
“We are thrilled with the outstanding results of the auction and deeply gratified to see Ansel Adams’ legacy honored in such a profound way. This collection represents the very essence of Adams’ vision — his reverence for the natural world, his technical mastery, and his unwavering commitment to photography as an art form,” says Lynn and Tom Meredith.
“It has been an extraordinary privilege to bring the Meredith Collection to auction, and we are absolutely gratified by the exceptional results achieved. To see the collection sell 100% and achieve 41 records is a testament to both the remarkable quality of these photographs and the timeless allure of Ansel Adams’ work. This kind of result is a rare achievement in the photographs market and speaks to Adams’ enduring influence as one of the most revered figures in the history of photography. The passion and enthusiasm shown by collectors around the world reaffirm his standing, and we are honored to have played a role in this landmark moment for Adams’ legacy,” adds Emily Bierman, Sotheby’s Global Head of Photographs.
A full list of all 96 lots is available on Sotheby’s website.