Before you Buy... Feeling Matters!

Nov/Dec 2018 edition
Issue #2 AutoMobilia Resource Magazine
Dale LaFollette

If you are considering collecting automobile photography....a little knowledge as to how to differentiate between a modern and a vintage photograph will go a long way.  The first level of defense against over-spending is understanding the language.  I have seen vintage photographs called period, historical, and original, while many times the seller has no real idea of the age or origin of the image.

Even galleries and museums have a hard time accurately describing what the term “vintage” means when applied to photography.  I have read long dissertations on the subject by very knowledgeable people that come to the conclusion that if a photograph is printed by the photographer on or about the time that is was taken, then it is vintage.  The word “about” is the problem.  To cover the “about” I have read that the photograph needed to be printed within 10% of the ensuing years.  In other words, if the scene depicted in the photograph happened 100 years ago, then the photograph needed to be printed at least 90 years ago to be called vintage.  But there is no hard, fast rule, it is buyer beware.
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Jim Clark at the British Grand Prix, the sign on the wall behind says “Jim for King” this photo was taken by Jutta Fausel for ESSO, I would value it at $75 to $125

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