Re: Are stereo slides worth anything ???

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>DrT and I exchanged a few messages off-list regarding my response to his
>request for feedback on his proposed pricing of authentic DrT stereo images
>(see digest 1836, Jan-16-97).  I did not understand he was seeking feedback
>specifically from collectors of stereo images, as opposed to other stereo
>photographers. 

The way I see things, only a collector of stereo images is interested in
acquiring stereo slides.  Paul wanted the slides for "educational purposes"
i.e. to learn from them.  In this case, a slide exchange might be more
appropriate.  In addition to various image exchange groups organized by
SSA, PSA and our very own photo-3d (expo1,2) there is the possibility of
individual (1:1) exchanges.  I have exchanged slides with a number of
people in this list and have learned a lot by looking and commenting on
different images.  I do not see why a person would want to keep slides for
this purpose.  One advantage in slide exchange is that I will send my very
best slides.  The ones that I give/sell are not my *very best* ones.

>From Marc's comment, it is apparent demand is quite high when the price
>is essentially zero, but what does the demand curve look like from there?

This (zero price = high demand) is true for many things in life ;).  It is
difficult to answer this question without a well-established market. 
Obviously the answer depends on the subject and photographer.  The first
time I bought stereo slides was in the Fort Wayne NSA convention ('91).  A
dealer had a large box filled with little Kodak boxes, each box containing
29 stereo slides, as returned from Kodak.  All the slides were taken from
someone's trip to Europe.  My theory is that this person came back from a
trip to Europe with about 100 rolls which he sent to Kodak for processing
& mounting.  He must have died shortly after that and never got to see the
slides (taken in early 60s is my guess).  

The price asked was $4 per box.  I bought 3-4 boxes.  The photography was 
EXCELLENT!!!!  At the moment I thought that I was paying too much for these
boxes.  Now I wish I had bought the entire lot!  I remounted about 10-15
slides which I kept and sold the rest (now I regret it!).  Going through my
"Realist doubting" phase, at first I thought the pictures were taken with a
Revere because they looked great.   However, I checked the "witness marks"
and they were taken with a Realist.  A Realist and Kodachrome.

Since that time I have been looking for stereo slides and have bought
various lots here and there.  I have been looking mainly for slides from
Greece but would buy anything now.  Prices vary but $1 per slide is getting
to be a standard.  This is for the better work.  I have seen a lot of junk
and have commented on the low quality of 50s work.  This appears to be the
rule, but there are many exceptions too. 

Marc expressed surprise about the deamand for pictures of people unknown to
us.  Apart from the good price ;), pictures of people always held and will
hold interest.  I once got a lot here locally, mostly pictures of a family. 
I loved them!  My wife expressed the same surprise why would I be
interested in seeing pictures of people not known to me.  It is fascinating
to intrude to someone's home through these stereo pictures.  You always
wonder what would are these kids doing today in their 40s and 50s...

Thanks Paul for getting me going here... ;)  Hope to hear some more
thoughts and opinions on this subject....

George Themelis

PS.  Warm wecome back to Dalia and many thanks for supplying me with a nice
lot of Realist slides from Greece, early 50s!


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