A Nikon FM2 and lens said to be owned by her is presently listed on eBay.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/221931210044?...127632-2357-0&rvr_id=923813921347&_mwBanner=1
http://m.ebay.com/itm/221931210044?...127632-2357-0&rvr_id=923813921347&_mwBanner=1
photomoof
Fischli & Weiss Sculpture
Why only 50%, and why these cameras?
Huss
Veteran
1/ How do we know it is Mary Ellen's camera?
2/ Giving 50% of the sale to charity is still giving money to charity. No matter who supposedly owned the camera. Packing and shipping the camera is not free etc etc
2/ Giving 50% of the sale to charity is still giving money to charity. No matter who supposedly owned the camera. Packing and shipping the camera is not free etc etc
aicardi
Established
Smells like bologna to me. I can see her "gear" being auctioned off. Just not on ebay.
Timmyjoe
Veteran
Doesn't look legit. Same questions as above, why only 50% to Red Cross. No way I can see someone who knew and respected Ms. Mark, auctioning off her equipment for charity, especially old equipment like this camera and lens, and then not giving 100% of the proceeds to the Red Cross.
The one thing that does make me curious is the user name of falklandrd. Falkland Road was the title of her 1981 book.
Weird.
Best,
-Tim
PS: Other weird thing, title lists 28mm lens, pictures show 28mm lens, description lists 35mm lens.
The one thing that does make me curious is the user name of falklandrd. Falkland Road was the title of her 1981 book.
Weird.
Best,
-Tim
PS: Other weird thing, title lists 28mm lens, pictures show 28mm lens, description lists 35mm lens.
photomoof
Fischli & Weiss Sculpture
No indication of provenance or who is selling. Odd.
Cameron
seasick, yet still docked
Wow, good catch with the username. Does seem suspect.
photomoof
Fischli & Weiss Sculpture
Could just be her studio closing down.
the auction may very well be legit,
if so, however, the listing was done very badly
without the necessary provenance and certificate of ownership by estate of Mary Ellen Marks
if so, however, the listing was done very badly
without the necessary provenance and certificate of ownership by estate of Mary Ellen Marks
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
the eBay handle leads to Falkland Road Inc in New York and when you Google that, you get a lot of Mary Ellen Mark references...
https://www.google.nl/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=Log6Vo_WCo-JOq6Bq5gM&gws_rd=ssl#q=falkland+road+inc+new+york
https://www.google.nl/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=Log6Vo_WCo-JOq6Bq5gM&gws_rd=ssl#q=falkland+road+inc+new+york
maddoc
... likes film again.
It also announced on the Official Mary Ellen Mark Facebook page.
Timmyjoe
Veteran
If it truly was her camera, and I had the money, I'd love to buy it. I've been a huge fan of her work since the 1980's. A great woman and artist.
Best,
-Tim
Best,
-Tim
Huss
Veteran
the bidding price is now at $610 with 9 days left. For a combo that anywhere else would be worth about $200.
But, as Stephen mentions, it needs to come with the necessary provenance and certificate of ownership by estate of Mary Ellen Marks. Otherwise when the auction is said and complete, and the new owner gets it, it just becomes an old Nikon.
Guys, I am a little, well, chagrined, that you'd think I would post a link up without being at least fairly certain it was legitimate. I didn't come down in the last shower.
FYI (I typed the OP quickly on my phone in bed this morning, half asleep) I found the listing not from browsing eBay, but via Mary Ellen's official facebook page which I've been following for years and which she used to post to herself occasionally when she was still alive.
I suppose it's possible that an enterprising fraudster has hacked her page with a view to expoiting the value of that old FM2 that's been sitting in their cupboard for years, but I seriously doubt that.
If you take a look at Mary Ellen's site (specifically, the "Contact" page http://www.maryellenmark.com/contact/contact.html ) you'll see a link to her Facebook page. And if you view that, you will find...a post sharing the ebay listing that I included in the original post.
Not that this will be enough to satisfy some of the more skeptical commentators no doubt. So I've actually written to Meredith Lue at Falkland Road (yes, the ebay seller ID was the first thing I checked, when I examined the listing, it is no revelation) and I have asked her to confirm that the listing has been made by them and that it is genuine. (I have also suggested she consider including some overt information about who is selling the equipment, and also a letter of authenticity, in order to try to get a better return for the Red Cross).
Feeling a little less skeptical, now?
FYI (I typed the OP quickly on my phone in bed this morning, half asleep) I found the listing not from browsing eBay, but via Mary Ellen's official facebook page which I've been following for years and which she used to post to herself occasionally when she was still alive.
I suppose it's possible that an enterprising fraudster has hacked her page with a view to expoiting the value of that old FM2 that's been sitting in their cupboard for years, but I seriously doubt that.
If you take a look at Mary Ellen's site (specifically, the "Contact" page http://www.maryellenmark.com/contact/contact.html ) you'll see a link to her Facebook page. And if you view that, you will find...a post sharing the ebay listing that I included in the original post.
Not that this will be enough to satisfy some of the more skeptical commentators no doubt. So I've actually written to Meredith Lue at Falkland Road (yes, the ebay seller ID was the first thing I checked, when I examined the listing, it is no revelation) and I have asked her to confirm that the listing has been made by them and that it is genuine. (I have also suggested she consider including some overt information about who is selling the equipment, and also a letter of authenticity, in order to try to get a better return for the Red Cross).
Feeling a little less skeptical, now?
Timmyjoe
Veteran
I was wrong, it does appear legit. I stand (or sit) corrected.
Best,
-Tim
Best,
-Tim
Cameron
seasick, yet still docked
The Facebook page does it for me. Thanks OP, this is an interesting find.
taemo
eat sleep shoot
camera looks to be in decent condition, not so much the lens but looks like to be a 28mm ai-s?
wheres the 300$ buy out link
wheres the 300$ buy out link
You're welcome. I thought so, too, and that was actually the only reason I started the thread.
I'm not in a position to bid on the item myself but, whilst I'm sure an FM2 is a superb SLR, it isn't something that really grabs me (simply because it just doesn't appeal to my personal collecting sensibilities). If, on the other hand, it was something like one of the Nikon Fs shown in this shot of her with Brando taken during filming of Apocalypse Now (and I'm no Nikon expert, so please, feel free to correct me if it is an F2, or some other model) or, if it was one of her Leicas, well, then, I would find that to be something to really covet. Having said that if one of our members became the fortunate owner of the FM2 in question that would be pretty cool in its own right.
Meredith was quick to respond when I wrote to the studio in May to give my condolences. I'll be surprised if she or someone else from Falkland Road doesn't reply to my email promptly, and I will make a point of updating the thread following the receipt of further information.
Cheers,
Brett
Pablito
coco frío
While I am probably in a very small minority here, I would not pay $1 more than market value for any famous photographer's camera. That's just me though ;-)
Cameron
seasick, yet still docked
Definitely looks like an F and an M4 in that picture. Thanks again! The SLR would be nice to have, but I can't justify it either. Like you said, either one of those in the picture would be worth a lot more, but I'm assuming those are being sent to museums or the like.