Auctions of Frances and Elsie Griffiths's notorious photographs of fairies are not unusual as the pictures were wideley sold during the 1920s and 1930s. The history of the Cottingley Fairies does not need repeating here - if you want to learn more visit the new galleries at Bradford's National Science and Media Museum to see examples and the cameras that made the pictures, or read Geoffrey Crawley's masterful history and interviews in the British Journal of Photography. Two examples, along with a photo of Elsie Griifths with her friend Mary Anderson were sold by John Taylor Auctions on 29 July. The lot sold for £2600.
The lot description read :
Cottingley Fairies. From the 1920 pamphlet: two photographs Frances and the fairies embossed 'Alice and the fairies copyright photograph taken July 1917' along with Elsie and the gnome, both brown sepia prints on brown card, accompanied by a sepia photograph of Frances and another young girl, Mary Anderson, school friend of Frances and mother of the current owner of the collection, the two older ladies may be the mother and aunt of Frances. There is an accompany file containing article etc about the Cottingley Fairies story plus printed email correspondence between the vendor and the daughter of Frances.
Provenance: Mary Anderson was at school with Frances Griffiths, Frances gave the prints to Mary in the 1920's (file contains confirmation of the friendship via email correspondence with Frances Griffith's daughter.
See the lot here
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The Cottingley Fairies are mentioned in the interview with the Director of the newly re-opened National Science and Media Museum in the previous post.