Bonhams are to offer a large lot of spirit and medium photography with provenance, of photographic and other materials relating to the spirit mediumship of Jack Webber. The lot description reads: a collection of approximately 90 vintage gelatin silver print Psychic or Infra-red photographs taken of Webber during his séances (roped to a chair, with ectoplasm, trumpets and tambourines, levitating tables, his coat being removed by spirits, apporting objects from his body, voice boxes, etc.), often with other circle members (including the vendor's grandparents, see footnote), several with some white gouache amendments, one with the trumpet inked in as it was moving "so rapidly that in a 75th second exposure a precise image was not secured", 74 pasted into an album by Edwards (a few loose), with printed captions and ink annotations on mount; others mounted and framed (by "C.E. Ponsford, Fine Art Dealer, 240 Balham High Road"), typically approx. 150 x 200mm., some smaller; and approximately 60 later printings, and copper metal plates for use on Edwards' book.
It is estimated at £4000-6000.
The auction also contains other photographs including Julia Margaret Cameron's Stella and PH Emerson's Reflections, 1899.
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Comments
What an absolutely fascinating lot of photographs!
Others seemingly thought so, too. It sold for £21,760 inc. premium.