A historic Australian photographic collection that includes arguably the first known pictures of Queen Elizabeth II as a baby will be up for auction completely unreserved tonight sure to attract some international attention.
Images capture moments in time of the Duke and Duchess Of York and daughter, Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, in what may be her very first moments as a baby.
“We believe that these could be the first images captured of Queen Elizabeth II and we wouldn’t be surprised if this auction caught the Royal Family’s attention tonight,” said Lee Hames, Chief Operations Officer for Lloyds Auctions.
“These are in fact glass negative images of the Queen which means they can be preserved for many years to come and blown up to the size of the opera house should the new owner wish to create portraits from them,” Mr Hames said.
“This has to be one of the most important photographic collections in Australia, if not the world, and all of the glass negatives will be going under the online hammer with no reserve.”
In a world first, Lloyds Auctions mint NFT’s (Non-Fungible Token) to offer blockchain proof of ownership on what Lloyds says is arguably “the most significant photographic collection in Australia’s history”.
“We have taken considerable measures and invested heavily in state-of-the-art technology in order to honour the owners of one of the most significant photographic collections in Australian history,” Mr Hames said.
The images featuring as part of one of the most significant photo collections in Australian history where images will also be offered an NFT. The ownership of the NFT will transfer to the highest bidder at the conclusion of the auction.
“An NFT is an item of value stored on an internet technology called blockchain, which certifies that the digital asset is unique and provides irrefutable proof of ownership,” Mr Hames explained.
“We believe this technology is a match made in heaven for those wanting to purchase or prove ownership of highly collectable items of value”.
Noteworthy photographs included in tonight’s auction feature: The Landing At ANZAC (Gallipoli 1915); Ned And Dan Kelly’s Armour (taken at trial in 1880); The Duke & Duchess Of York And Daughter Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; Phar Lap Winning The Melbourne Cup 1930; Egyptian Pyramids And Sphinx; Franco British Expedition and more.
The photos feature from the Rose Stereograph Company which was founded in 1880 by George Rose and Herbert Cutts. The pair formed a lifetime working partnership and strong personal friendship. Assisted by George’s two sons, Herbert George and Walter, and later Herbert’s son, Neil Cutts, the Rose Stereograph Company continued its operations for more than 140 years; and remains an incorporated Australian company to this day.
The final auction featuring these historic images ends from tonight at 7pm. To find out more click here.
