Sale of Royale Photos

Chris Rafael by Hussar

Last year (Aug 2023) there was an auction of 29 Hussar Studio images by Swann Galleries in the US. Most of the the items were solo posed images like the one above of Chris Rafael. This relatively unknown Royale model also featured in the Colville coloured collection of 2016 with a sword pose taken from the same set.

Colville priced this photo at A$ 3,500 (about £1,900)

The Swann catalogue also includes a photo strip featuring Rafael wrestling with two other men.

It's not entirely obvious that these three images are from the same set (or playlet as Hussar Studio called them). However, these same three pictures were also featured in a photo spread in a magazine called 'Teenage Muscles', ca 1961 which suggests that they are indeed part of a single set. I know it from other sources as 'Wrestling Greeks*' (article pending). The Swann collection (link below) also includes solo images of the models. It's possible that it may have been supplied by Hussar to promote that set.

*I have found Chris Rafael variously described as Pakistani, Spanish and (apparently) here as Greek!

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The 29 images in the Swann collection fetched US $2,750 (about £2,200).

That's about $95 or £76 each.

Basil Clavering would be amazed!

View the Swann Auction Catalogue