Oxfam's Henley-on-Thames shop is offering a collection of books from the library of Bert Hardy and his wife, Sheila. Many of them are inscribed to them both. The books have been donated to Oxfam by Michael Hardy, Bert's son from his first marriage. The inscriptions include such luminaries asHelmut Gernsheim, Tim Gidal, George Rodger, and Fay Godwin amongst others. Oxfam is asking £4995 for the collection, but would probably negotiate.
The books are:
A collection of photography books inscribed by their authors and presented to documentary and Picture Post photographer Bert Hardy (1913-1995) and his second wife Sheila, herself a Picture Post employee. The collection was brought to us by Michael Hardy, one of Bert's sons from his first marriage, himself famously a subject of some of his father's photographs. A few of the books were inscribed to Sheila after Bert's passing.
The Blitz - The Photography of George Rodger [hardcover in dust jacket]
"For Bert & Sheila. A book full of memories. With my love George Jan 1995" [Bert Hardy died on 3rd July 1995]
George Rodger - Magnum Opus [paperback, accompanying text in German]
"For Sheila and Bert (the other parallel line) George", with additional signature above dated 1987
George Rodger (Gordon Fraser Photographic Monographs no. 4) [paperback]
"To Bert With Best Wishes George, Apr 1995" [Bert Hardy died on 3rd July 1995]
Tim N Gidal - Modern Photojournalism - Origin and Evolution 1910-1913 [paperback]
"To Bert Hardy, one of the great photo reporters with good wishes Tim Gidal, Jerusalem 1990"
Fay Godwin - Our Forbidden Land [hardcover in dust jacket, first edition]
"For Bert with very best wishes Fay 27.9.90", with additional signature on the title page
Fay Godwin - Land [paperback]
For Bert with greatest admiration and all best wishes Fay 2.5.87"
Photographs - Jane Corkin Gallery 1989 [paperback]
For Bert and Sheila Hardy, for vision and with admiration, Jane. 10 June 1992. Toronto"
Manpower - Photographs by Sally Soames [paperback]
"For Sheila and Bert Hardy with love from Sally xx April '89"
David Steen - Lucky Boy [hardcover]
"My dear Sheila, Happy memories of early days at Picture Post. I owe so much to Bert, he gave me the passion for photography - he changed my life. I wish you good health and happiness love David x", with date January 2015
Robert Waterhouse - The Other Fleet Street - How Manchester Made Newspapers National [paperback]
"Sheila Hardy with many thanks for your help (see pages 184-185) Bob Waterhouse Oct 2004" [the pages referenced contain a feature on Bert Hardy]
Brian Moynahan - The British Century - A Photographic History of the Last Hundred Years [hardcover in dust jacket]
"The picture on page 209 is one of my personal favourites. All best wishes - what a contribution Bert has made - Brian Moynahan"
Venetia Murray - Echoes of the East End [hardcover in dust jacket, first edition]
"To Bert and Sheila with love and thanks for all your help - Venetia"
Helmut Gernsheim - A Concise History of Photography [paperback]
"Bert Hardy with thanks for his fine contributions to this book Helmut Gernsheim Lugano, Easter 1987"
Fi McGhee - Photographers and their Images [hardcover in dust jacket]
"Bert - Thank you so much for all your help and encouragement. With love, Fi"
Godfrey Smith - The English Season, with Photographs by Homer Sykes [ hardcover in dust jacket]
"Bert and Shelia. Many thanks and best wishes Homer", with date 14/2/90 above
Assignments 3 - The British Press Photographers' Association Yearbook edited by Tom Hopkinson [paperback]
"Bert and Sheila from Tom and Dorothy Jan 1990"
Additional to this are the following two books, both part of the same collection donated by Michael Hardy:
The Picture Post Album - A 50th Anniversary Collection [hardcover in dust jacket]
Signed by Bert Hardy to the front of the jacket, which features one of his best known photographs
Country and Cockney Camera [two paperback volumes, in slipcase]
Each book is inscribed "Bertie, with love, Sheila Christmas 1975"
And four further books which contain one or more handwritten page numbers. The numbers refer to pages with photographs by Bert Hardy or references to his name in the text. Again these books were part of the same collection donated by Michael Hardy:
Times Gone By - A Photographic Record of Great Britain 1856-1956 [paperback]
Jorge Lewinski - The Camera at War - War Photography from 1848 to the present day [hardcover in dust jacket]
Otto Steinert - Subjektive fotographie 2 [hardcover in dust jacket, text in German, contains a receipt for the purchase of the book in Bert Hardy's name]
US Camera 1954 [hardcover in dust jacket]
See the online listing here:
