The largest book of photographs that was ever published was recently sold at Bonhams Book, Maps, Manuscripts and Historical Photographs sale for £330,000 (approx. $519,000). Initially estimated to fetch between £50,000 and £70,000, the copy generated quite a bidding war at the auction.
Containing 20 images of Sinai, Jerusalem and Egypt, the book is a remarkable collection of huge photographs that measure 30 x 21 inches (77 x 55 cm). They were taken by photographer Francis Frith during his 1856 trip to the Middle East. In order to obtain these immense un-enlarged photos, he carried huge cameras with him in his explorations, plus a mobile dark room and some very dangerous chemicals that he required for the developing process.
In 1858, Frith published his collection of Middle Eastern images in a book with text by Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Stuart Pole, who were his friends. One copy made it to London and got sold for the aforementioned sum on June 12.
