23rd Apr, 2022 12:00
Fine Photographica
A Hasselblad 503CX Golden Blue 50th Anniversary Medium Fomat Camera
1991, blue/gold, serial no. 01EV10384, with Carl Zeiss Planar T* f/2.8 80mm lens, black/gold, serial no. 7208847, body, E, lens, E, shutter working, complete with a presentation box, strap, and maker's box
Provenance:
Professor Mike Maloney O.B.E, along with Robert Maxwell was attending lunch at the Kremlin with Mikhail Gorbachev in 1989. Also in attendance was the Chairman of the K.G.B, Vladimir Alexandrovich Kryuchkov.
Mike was keen to get a photograph of Robert, Mikhail and Vladimir, however, during lunch, the hotline goes off with the president of the United States on the line. Everyone was ushered out of lunch into the corridor and Mike realised that he may not get the shot he wanted.
Suddenly, Mikhail appear out of the door and turned to swiftly walk away. Without thinking, mike reached out and grabbed Mikhail by the arm and spun him around to ask for a quick photograph between Robert and Vladimir. He obliged, with Mike snapping a few quick photographs on his Leica, then Mikhail went on his way.
Robert to Mike: 'You almost got me killed!.
When Mike grabbed Mikhail, all of the KGB offices instantly drew their guns and had them pointed at the back of Mike's head.
Robert to Mike: 'You almost got me killed, they may have missed you and hit me'.
Around one week later, Robert and Mike met for lunch where Robert presented Mike with this Gold Hasselblad. This was a gesture to thank Mike for 'a photograph of the three most powerful men in the world'
Sold for £4,000
Result plus buyers premium
1991, blue/gold, serial no. 01EV10384, with Carl Zeiss Planar T* f/2.8 80mm lens, black/gold, serial no. 7208847, body, E, lens, E, shutter working, complete with a presentation box, strap, and maker's box
Provenance:
Professor Mike Maloney O.B.E, along with Robert Maxwell was attending lunch at the Kremlin with Mikhail Gorbachev in 1989. Also in attendance was the Chairman of the K.G.B, Vladimir Alexandrovich Kryuchkov.
Mike was keen to get a photograph of Robert, Mikhail and Vladimir, however, during lunch, the hotline goes off with the president of the United States on the line. Everyone was ushered out of lunch into the corridor and Mike realised that he may not get the shot he wanted.
Suddenly, Mikhail appear out of the door and turned to swiftly walk away. Without thinking, mike reached out and grabbed Mikhail by the arm and spun him around to ask for a quick photograph between Robert and Vladimir. He obliged, with Mike snapping a few quick photographs on his Leica, then Mikhail went on his way.
Robert to Mike: 'You almost got me killed!.
When Mike grabbed Mikhail, all of the KGB offices instantly drew their guns and had them pointed at the back of Mike's head.
Robert to Mike: 'You almost got me killed, they may have missed you and hit me'.
Around one week later, Robert and Mike met for lunch where Robert presented Mike with this Gold Hasselblad. This was a gesture to thank Mike for 'a photograph of the three most powerful men in the world'
Auction: Fine Photographica, 23rd Apr, 2022
