by Claire O'Neill

More than 1,000 photographs from the Polaroid collection are being auctioned at Sotheby's in New York City as part of Polaroid's bankruptcy court order. The auction includes images by legendary artists and photographers going back to the 1940s. Some artists are upset that the collection is being auctioned off, believing that they only lent their work to Polaroid.
Listen to NPR's Margot Adler report.

  • Pine Branches, Yosemite Valley, est. $5,000-$7,000. This photograph, taken by Ansel Adams, is one of many by the photographer in the collection. Adams was friends with the inventor of Polaroid, who encouraged him to build a "Library Collection" of contemporary photography for the Polaroid company — of both Polaroid images and more conventional types of photography.
    Hide caption
    Pine Branches, Yosemite Valley, est. $5,000-$7,000. This photograph, taken by Ansel Adams, is one of many by the photographer in the collection. Adams was friends with the inventor of Polaroid, who encouraged him to build a "Library Collection" of contemporary photography for the Polaroid company — of both Polaroid images and more conventional types of photography.
    Photographs from The Polaroid Collection/Sotheby's New York
  • 9-Part Self Portrait, unique collage of large-format Polapan prints, est. $50,000-$70,000
    Hide caption
    9-Part Self Portrait, unique collage of large-format Polapan prints, est. $50,000-$70,000
    Chuck Close/Courtesy Pace/MacGill Gallery, New York/Sotheby's New York
  • The Tetons and Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, mural-sized gelatin silver print, est. $250,000-$350,000. Another film print by Ansel Adams being auctioned with the Polaroid Collection at Sotheby's.
    Hide caption
    The Tetons and Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, mural-sized gelatin silver print, est. $250,000-$350,000. Another film print by Ansel Adams being auctioned with the Polaroid Collection at Sotheby's.
    Photographs from The Polaroid Collection/Sotheby's New York
  • Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California, gelatin silver print, est. $60,000-$80,000. This photograph, taken by Dorothea Lange, was acquired by Ansel Adams for Polaroid's Library Collection.
    Hide caption
    Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California, gelatin silver print, est. $60,000-$80,000. This photograph, taken by Dorothea Lange, was acquired by Ansel Adams for Polaroid's Library Collection.
    Photographs from The Polaroid Collection/Sotheby's New York
  • Andy Sneezing (Diptych), a diptych of unique Polaroid SX-70 prints, est. $6,000-$9,000
    Hide caption
    Andy Sneezing (Diptych), a diptych of unique Polaroid SX-70 prints, est. $6,000-$9,000
    Andy Warhol/Courtesy Pace/MacGill Gallery, New York/Sotheby's New York
  • Ice Breaking on High Sierra Lake, unique Polaroid Type 52 print, est. $6,000-$9,000
    Hide caption
    Ice Breaking on High Sierra Lake, unique Polaroid Type 52 print, est. $6,000-$9,000
    Ansel Adams/Sotheby's New York
  • Japanese Sky I (From the Bleacher Series), unique large-format Polapan print, est. $40,000-$60,000
    Hide caption
    Japanese Sky I (From the Bleacher Series), unique large-format Polapan print, est. $40,000-$60,000
    Robert Rauschenberg/Courtesy Pace/MacGill Gallery, New York/Sotheby's New York
  • Ultra-Large (Hands), unique, mural-sized Polaroid Polacolor print, est. $20,000-$30,000
    Hide caption
    Ultra-Large (Hands), unique, mural-sized Polaroid Polacolor print, est. $20,000-$30,000
    Lucas Samaras/Courtesy Pace/MacGill Gallery, New York/Sotheby's New York
  • Chicago (Trees in Snow), gelatin silver print, est. $70,000-$100,000
    Hide caption
    Chicago (Trees in Snow), gelatin silver print, est. $70,000-$100,000
    Harry Callahan/Courtesy Pace/MacGill Gallery, New York/Sotheby's New York
  • Half Dome, Merced River, est. $30,000-$50,000
    Hide caption
    Half Dome, Merced River, est. $30,000-$50,000
    Ansel Adams/Sotheby's New York

1 of 10

View slideshow i