Sotheby's to auction historic Polaroid collection

Polaroid Corp’s historic photo collection featuring many of the 20th century’s top artists and photographers will be auctioned by Sotheby’s  in New York in June.

The works of photography legends such David Hockney, Robert Mapplethorpe, Andy Warhol and Ansel Adams – devotees of the clunky device – are to be sold on order of the US Bankruptcy Court in Minnesota.

Sotheby’s hopes to raise US$7.5 to US$11.5 million  from the sale, with proceeds going to creditors of the failed parent company.

The auction has drawn fire from some photographers because it will split up the famed collection, which has attracted the interest of collectors around the world.

The 1200 pictures, comprising both Polaroid and traditional photos, include 400 works by Adams, who worked closely with the camera’s inventor Edwin Land and began the photo collection at Land’s request.

Land got his inspiration for the Polaroid while on vacation in 1943 when his young daughter Jennifer asked why she couldn’t see photographs right after they were taken.

According to a Sotheyby’s spokesperson, it took Land only an afternoon to effectively invent the concept of instant photography.

His first Land camera and film, which sold out within hours, was introduced to the market in a Boston department store in 1948.

Polaroid Corp. filed for bankruptcy protection in 2008 amid a fraud probe of its parent company Petters Group Worldwide.