A Carlisle duo has released a book of found photographs from the 1940s.
Damian Sealey and Mark Howlette, who own Absolutely Nice Vintage, based in Atlas Works, decided to create the book after they posted the images on social media and received an overwhelming response.
The pair said they often come across old boxes of long forgotten film and photographs on their outings, be it house clearances, auctions or charity shops.
But earlier this year, the pair found a stand-out selection of stunning photographs in local auction H&H. The images were brought in as part of a house clearance.
Damian said that part of the allure of the discarded memories was wondering why the person behind the camera had chosen to specifically capture certain moments.
After posting about the photographs on their Instagram page, the duo received an overwhelming response with one person suggesting a book be made.
Working with long-term design partner Vincent Walden, Damian and Mark set about curating and designing a 32-page book of a selection of the photographs, called Lot 455. It is the duo’s first published book.
Damian and Mark were also lucky enough to contact the Grandson of the photographer who was able to shed some light on them.
The photographs were taken in Tripoli, Libya by Norman Fairlam in the late 1940s while he assisted in setting up an airport there.
Mark said that the photographs capture beautiful, intimate moments of Norman’s family life with wife Bessie and son Malcolm.
Born in Haltwhistle in 1911, Norman retired from Newcastle Airport as head of air traffic control in the 1970s. He lived in and around Newcastle after a stint in Tripoli and died in 2005.
