Rare Bluebird photographs set to go under the hammer at West Sussex auction house
A remarkable collection of photographs charting some of the most famous moments in British speed-record history will go under the hammer at a West Sussex auction house later this month.
Around 70 rare news agency photographs documenting the Bluebird speed-record attempts of Sir Malcolm Campbell and his son, Donald Campbell, will feature in the November 24 sale at John Nicholson’s in Fernhurst.
The collection, from the Acme Newspictures Ltd/Planet News archive, includes images that have never previously been published, alongside iconic photographs capturing the daring exploits of the father-and-son duo.
There also images relating to Donald Campbell’s final attempt to break the world water speed record on Coniston Water in the Lake District in 1967, when he lost his life.
The photographs, most measuring 7½ by 9½ inches or smaller, are offered unframed, with the majority retaining their original typed captions on the reverse. The collection carries an estimate of £500 to £800.
The sale also features a glimpse into 19th-century China, with eight early albumen photographs of Foochow and Newchuwang (Yingkou), dating from the 1870s or 1880s.
The captioned images include views of the British Consulate and the British Consul’s residence, commercial buildings and harbour scenes, as well as a photograph showing a Chinese mandarin alongside British officials. The group is expected to fetch between £400 and £600.
Aviation enthusiasts may also be interested in a collection of 92 volumes of Jane’s All The World’s Aircraft. Formerly belonging to the library of explorer, aircraft designer and writer Arthur W J G Ord-Hume (1932-2024), the extensive run is estimated at £200 to £400.
Among the more affordable lots are two signed photographs of celebrated American dancers Fayard Nicholas and Harold Nicholas, better known as the Nicholas Brothers.
Famed for their extraordinary acrobatic dancing, particularly their spectacular Jumping Jive routine in the 1943 film Stormy Weather, the brothers earned widespread admiration for their performances. Fred Astaire famously regarded the sequence, filmed in a single take, as ‘the greatest dance number ever captured on film’.
The two signed photographs carry an estimate of £20 to £30.
Live online bidding will be available through John Nicholson’s website at www.johnnicholsons.com