Roland Belgrave Vintage Photography specializes in the nineteenth century. I deal in photography from its inception to the pioneers of the medium who travelled the globe taking the earliest views of its people and places. During the last 3/4 years i have also been showing contemporary with specific environmental subject matter.
Travel and Exploration are my main themes, although I buy all early imagery that is exotic and eclectic. Calotypes, daguerreotypes, early and unusual views of an ethnographic nature are all items that I look for and sell. Photographic albums and early photo-books from India, China and South East Asia are also examples of material I have and that is highly collectable and looked for by various collections.
I have been in the trade for roughly 20 years, dealing in both antiquarian books and photographs. I exhibit at both photographic fairs and also book fairs around the world. I regularly sell and help build institutional collections and private, in the UK and abroad. I am essentially a private dealer, however I do also have a gallery in Lewes, Sussex.
Nineteenth century photography is a niche with a handful of specialist dealers globally. There is a strong crossover of collecting between contemporary, modern and early nineteenth century photography.