Collection F 2008.004 - Spira 19th and 20th century foreign language photography publications

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Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Spira 19th and 20th century foreign language photography publications

General material designation

  • Textual record

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Collection

Repository

Reference code

F 2008.004

Edition area

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Statement of scale (cartographic)

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Statement of scale (architectural)

Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1866-1975 (Creation)
    Creator
    Spira, Jonathan
  • 1880-1930 (Creation)
    Creator
    Spira, Fred, Mr., 1924-2007

Physical description area

Physical description

4.57 m of published material

Publisher's series area

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Archival description area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Name of creator

Biographical history

Fred Spira was a photographic historian, collector and business owner who was one of the founders of Spiratone, a photographic business that he began with his family in 1941 as a lab for film development in New York. The business grew into a multi-million dollar business that manufactured and sold affordable photographic equipment. The company became publicly traded when it merged with Interphoto in 1967, it was then eventually bought out by Argus and closed in the early 1990's. Spira retired from the business in 1987.

Spira collected photographic literature and ephemera throughout his life, eventually amassing 10,000 books and 20,000 pieces of photographic equipment, including rare cameras and viewing devices such as and 1861 Ross-Sutton wet plate Panoramic camera and the 1896 Pettibone Bros. Mfg. Co. Revolving Disc Sciopticon. These items and others from the collection were exhibited at the George Eastman House Museum in 1980. The collection also served as the basis for the 2001 book "The History of Photography: as Seen Through the Eyes of the Spira Collection", written by Fred Spira and his son, Jonathan Spira and published by Aperture.

Portions of the Spira library were acquired by the Ryerson Library and Archives in 2006 and 2008, and the photographic camera and ephemera was sold after Spira's death in 2007 and now forms the basis of the Photographic Technology collection at the Qatar Museums Authority.

Custodial history

The books were originally part of the Spira Collection's library, collected by Fred Spira in support of his photographic ephemera collection.

Scope and content

The collection contains books and bound periodicals on the subject of photography. Subjects include instructional guides, process descriptions, art photography, early photographic chemistry and product catalogues. Some publications include tipped in photogrpahs. TThe primary language of the collection is German, with a few Spanish, Russian, Czech, and Japanese publications.
Periodicals include:
Allgemeine Photographische Zeitung (January 1924-December 1926)
Photofreund (1924)
Photofreund Jahrbuch (1924-1934)
Photographische Archiv (1866, 1871-1891)
Photographische Correspondenz (1878, 1889-1908, 1928, 1932, 1947-1951)

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

The collection was acquired by Ryerson University Library and Archives from Jonathan Spira, son of collector Fred Spira.

Arrangement

Language of material

Script of material

Language and script note

The primary language of the collection is German, with a few Spanish, Russian, Czech, and Japanese publications.

Location of originals

Availability of other formats

Restrictions on access

Open. Records are available for consultation without restriction.

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

Finding aids

Associated materials

The Spira Collection: http://www.spiracollection.com
Photographic Technology Collection: Qatar Museums Authority http://www.qma.com.qa/en/collections/photography/photographic-technology

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Digital object (Master) rights area

Digital object (Reference) rights area

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Accession area