[A] selection of images by renowned Lakeland life photographer Joseph Hardman, taken between the 1930s and the 1960s, is up for auction on the North Lancashire, Cumbria border on Tuesday 5 December.
Amongst the 17 lots being sold by 1818 Auctioneers is – a large collection of black and white photographs in a brown leather Hardman stamped suitcase; a biscuit tin of glass lantern slides and two lots of photographs depicting farming and scenes of rural life. Some are valued at £100, others at £400 and they include subjects as diverse as early mountaineers to images of native sheep breeds like the Kendal Rough Fell.
Expert Ken Payne, who has been cataloguing the items with the help of trainee valuer Garth Drinkall, said: “It’s not often that we get to make a discovery of this magnitude. We had been invited to value “a few cameras” only to find they were part of a houseful of photographic equipment, including a large collection of Joseph Hardman originals. Our client’s uncle had been a freelance reporter, working for local and national newspapers, and a keen photographer. He had been friends with, and a fan of, Joseph Hardman and went on to collect a large quantity of his original works, with subjects ranging from sheep shows, local towns, events and Lake District views. We are delighted to be offering up this first batch of images, the tip of an iceberg. There will be a lot more to come as we continue the cataloguing process” added Ken.
Joseph Hardman, who was born near Manchester in 1893, moved to Kendal in 1911. A prolific photographer, his images record all aspects of rural life which was fast-disappearing. Having never learnt to drive he would travel up to 200 miles a week by taxi. On his death in 1972 his wife donated almost 5,000 glass negatives to Kendal’s Museum of Lakeland Life and Industry; a fraction of the estimated 50-60,000 glass plate negatives he is thought to have taken. His pictures featured in countless newspapers and magazines in Britain and in America.
The Hardman images are being sold as part of 1818 Auctioneers Two-Day Auction of Antiques, Collectables & Curios (Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 December).
The catalogue is available online at www.1818auctioneers.co.uk. The collection can viewed on Friday 1 December between 1pm and 4pm, on Saturday 2 December between 10am and 2.30pm and also on the morning of the sale from 8.30am. The sale will start at 10am (on both days) and bids can be made in person or left – further details can be found on the website or by calling 1818 Auctioneers on 015395 66201. Ken Payne and Garth Drinkall can also be contacted at the saleroom.
