A rare collection of 19th-century astrophotographs has captivated collectors, with several pieces fetching astonishing prices at recent auctions. Among the highlights was an image of the moon taken by John Draper in 1840, which sold for €50,000. This daguerreotype, created using techniques revealed by Louis Daguerre, is a testament to the early intersection of photography and astronomy.
Another notable sale included photographs by the Henry brothers, who captured planets like Saturn and Jupiter in the 1840s. Their groundbreaking work, which involved keeping the camera shutter open for hours, is currently showcased in a rare book available for £2,700.
Isaac Roberts' enigmatic black-and-white images of the Pleiades and Andromeda nebulae from the 1880s also attracted attention, with each piece priced at £3,600. These photographs not only represent artistic achievement but also historical significance in our understanding of the universe.
At Sotheby's recent space exploration auction, an Apollo 13 photo of the lunar surface sold for an impressive $204,000, highlighting the growing interest in space-related collectibles. Collectors are increasingly drawn to the beauty and rarity of these early astrophotographs, making them a hot commodity in the auction world.