The Vintage Photographs

The Archive consists solely of Vintage Silver Prints. This means they were printed within a month of the date that they were photographed, and printed by or under the supervision of Norman Parkinson in his darkrooms at 8a Orleans Road. They span the Era from 1950-1964 of Norman Parkinson's Fashion Assignments for Vogue and Queen magazines. We are still researching these images, realising that we have an unique record, of Parkinson's work documenting an era of enormous and extraordinary social change.

Parkinson, was adamant that in his view "Photography is not an Art but a Craft". He was quoted in the 1970's, he found it unbelievable that "In America Photographers are selling their prints for thousands of dollars" It was only in 1971 that Philippe Garner instigated the first Auction of Vintage Photographs at Sothebys London. By 1985 the whole Art Market had begun to re-evaluate the work of photographers and in particular their early 'vintage prints'. In 1985 Parkinson was represented by a new Gallery, Hamiltons, and he produced his first signed, limited editions of, his then, favourite images. Parkinson was the first photographer to challenge Conde Nast for Copyright on the images he had taken for Vogue Magazine which allowed him to regain sole copyright on all the shoots from 1949. This led the way for other Photographers to bring forth a change in the Copyright Law which now holds for Seventy Years after the death of the Artist.

Tim Jeffries at Hamiltons Gallery said in 2007. "The mark of a truly great fashion photograph is its ability to stand outside the context in which it was made. Photographers tend to outlive their sell by date. The later works of Parkinson and Horst don't have the resonance of their golden ages between 1930's and 1960's. Rarity (unique prints, short editions) and provenance remain important, but condition is less of a concern. "Condition used to be paramount" says Jeffries "Now, the signs of pedigree are appreciated, the Patina becomes the added attraction"

Michael Hoppen explained in an article written by James Sherwood, 7th August 2004 in the Independent. "Time to Snap up Fashion Photos" "It is virtually impossible to find a Vintage Print. One would have been printed for the magazine, one for the photographer and maybe one for the model. We have got to a stage now with Bourdin for example that printed laters are highly prized because vintage prints are almost non existant. "New collectors may question why Park's Le Touquet is priced at £7,500 and £12,000 by Hamiltons. The £12,000 print is Vintage (is contemporary to the image being shot) the £7,500 is printed later'.

Prints