Up For Auction: Ansel Adams’ Arca-Swiss 4×5 View Camera

The Arca-Swiss 4×5 View Camera Outfit that Ansel Adams used from 1964 to 1968 will be sold to the highest bidder near the end of the month. This is the only view camera of Adams’ to ever come up for auction, and Heritage Auctions of Dallas, Texas, is the auction house that has the honor of offering up this piece of photographic history.

The camera is mentioned in Adams’ book, “The Making of 40 Photographs,” in reference to the creation of his well-known image “Arches, North Court, Mission San Xavier del Bac.”

Adams passed the camera on to his then-assistant Liliane De Cock in 1968. De Cock later married Douglas Morgan, who she was introduced to by Adams. Douglas is the son of famed photographer Barbara Morgan. The Arca-Swiss 4×5 View Camera comes directly from the family.

Opening bid is $35,000 for the camera outfit, which includes three lenses, extra bag bellows, a compendium lens hood, Wratten gelatin filters, a dark cloth, tripod, carrying case and more, is valued anywhere from $70,000 to $100,000.

The auction listing can be viewed here.