20 August 1998
The Grant Collection
Christie's South Kensington, London, Cameras and Optical Toys
In a single lot the largest Exakta Collection at Christies
 It is incredible! A large collection for sale as a single lot! Do you wish to know something more? 70 cameras: 3 Exakta VP A, 6 Exakta VP B, 1 VP C, 1 Exakta Night, 1 Exakta Jr, 1 Kine round magnifier, five other Kine, 3 Exakta II, 5 Exakta V, 7 Exakta VX, 11 Varex IIa or VX IIa, 3 VX IIb, 1 VX 1000, 2 VX 500, 1 Exakta Real, 2 Exakta 500, 2 VX 1000 TL, 3 RTL1000, 1 Exakta twin TL, 1 Exakta 66 prewar, 2 Exakta 66 postwar, 7 Exas. 87 lenses. Between them some good items, not very rare, but expensive when you find them. Accessories. Few, but between the the Stereflex binocular viewing lens and the stereo prism. My opinions about this auction. I think that these items' value can be around 25.000 US dollars. I do not think that they can be sold for this sum because there is the buyer's premium and the added value tax so the price goes to around 35.000 dollars. There are few rare items (Stereflex, Exakta Real, prewar Exakta, 2 postwar Exakta, a round magnifier Kine, and some lenses) but I do not think that it is impossible to find them separately, even at a high price. This is my first opinion. And now, let us suppose that I am a rich collector who receives the Christie's catalog. Immediately I am excited, a large collection is ready to be mine, not a simple collection but the Grant Collection that mantained the same name when passed into the hands of another collector, that 'll mantain the same name if it 'll pass in my hands, that is to be sold by Christie's! Yes I think I'll send a bid, 20.000 - 30.000 dollars, not more. It can be a good investment, during next years, if I change my idea, I can resell it, probably at Christie's again, where my bid 'll be remembered! Yes, 25.000 dollars! This is my second opinion. But what 'll happen on 20 August? No museum 'll bid. The few in the world do not own money to buy Exaktas, the dealers can offer 10-15.000 dollars, not more. Private collectors all around the world cannot buy this collection because they usually have many of the items of the lot. So it is possible that my second opinion 'll prevail, so we can know how many rich collectors are between us! Note from Christie's Catalog This unique collection comprises the main German-made Exakta and Exa cameras from 1933 to 1976, the main lenses produced for the marque by various lens makers and a small number of accessories. The collection was put together by James J. Grant, a businessman from Van Wert, Ohio, Usa, who began using Exakta cameras in 1957 as an active wildlife photographer. Over the following decade Grant purchased further bodies together with a variety of lenses and accessories and from 1968 he began collecting Exakta and Exa in earnest. As the collection grew more comprehensive Grant began planning a book on the history of the Exakta (he had already authored four books about single-shot rifles) but in 1980 following poor health he abandoned the idea. The collection subsequently passed into the hands of Frederick R.G. Sanborn of Cincinnati who retained the Grant name associated with the collection. |
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