Magnum Photos entire archive of prints – billed as the most valuable collection in the history of photography – has been sold to an investment firm run by the boss of computer giant Dell.
Nearly 200,000 original press prints of images captured by photo legends such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa and Elliott Erwitt have been sold to MSD Capital, a private investment firm run by Michael S Dell, chairman and CEO of Dell Inc.
The Magnum Archive Collection – which dates from the 1930s – documents major world events such as the D-Day landings.
And it includes portraits of world leaders and Hollywood stars such as Marilyn Monroe.
The photos will be ‘preserved and catalogued’ at the Harry Ransom Center, a museum based at the University of Texas.
The photographers will retain copyright and the licensing rights to all images in the Collection, according to a statement released to Amateur Photographer.
Details of the deal have not been disclosed.
