2 photographs from Polaroid Type 55 negatives, including Sunset Ranch, Creek Beach, California, and Rocks and Limpets, Pt. Lobos State Reserve, California, each mounted, the first signed in ink and the second with credit and annotation in pencil on the mount, and Carmel studio stamps (BMFA 5, 6, and 10 and BMFA 11, respectively), the first titled, dated, and annotated and the second with title and date, in ink, on the reverse, 1960-64, the second probably printed in 1974 (An Autobiography, p. 3; Morgan & Morgan, pl. 92) (2)

'Sunset Ranch, Creek Beach, California' - This photograph, mounted on Crescent illustration board, is in generally fair to good condition. The upper central portion of the sky has a contained area of surface scratches and losses to the top layer of emulsion. Visible in raking light and extending from the lower edge of the print is a 2-inch zig-zag indentation that does not break the emulsion. Also visible upon close examination in high raking light are smaller surface scratches throughout the print that do not break the emulsion. The bottom right corner of the print is chipped and bumped. The corners of the cream-colored mount are bumped or creased. Light graphite-colored fingerprints are visible at the mount's periphery. On the reverse of the mount, the negative number and credit are annotated in ink '4-CAL-511 a' and 'Redwood Empire film,' respectively. The area around BMFA stamp 5 is abraded and part of the stamp is missing. 'B.' is annotated in an unidentified hand in black ink. Light grey fingerprints are visible in the central portion on the reverse of the mount. Karen Haas's and Rebecca Senf's book, 'Ansel Adams in the Lane Collection,' publishes the most comprehensive list to date of the studio stamps and labels Adams used throughout his career. The authors' assessment of the use dates of stamps 5 and 6 on the reverse of the print's mount is 1962 to 1963. Adams, however, has dated this print 1964. Stamp 10 indicates that this print was made from a Polaroid Type 55 negative. 'Rocks and Limpets, Pt. Lobos State Reserve, California' - This print is in generally very good to excellent condition. There is a tiny chip in the upper edge of the print, and when examined in raking light, two tiny deposits of original retouching are visible in the center right portion of the print. The front of the mount is credited 'Ansel Adams-' and annotated 'V163' in an unidentified hand in pencil in the upper right corner. On the reverse of the mount, which is slightly bowed, there are tape remnants around the periphery. These do not affect the print in any way. Karen Haas's and Rebecca Senf's book, 'Ansel Adams in the Lane Collection,' publishes the most comprehensive list to date of the studio stamps and labels Adams used throughout his career. The authors' assessment of the use dates of stamp 11 on the reverse of the print's mount is 1973 to 1977.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.