'Everyone knows Baldus' - hence his $5,500 estimate at this Paris auction

France's most successful photographer in the mid-1950s is going under the hammer at Tajan

"Everyone knows Baldus," a reviewer wrote in 1859.

By the mid-1850s, Édouard-Denis Baldus was France's most successful photographer and at the pinnacle of his career.

Baldus actually began his career as a painter, before turning to photography in 1849. This was around the time that paper negatives were becoming popular.

Describing himself as a peintre photographe (painter photographer) from then on, Baldus later went on to form the Société Héliographique, the world's first photographic organisation.

Édouard-Denis Baldus's photograph of the Royans bridge in Paris

Baldus's images focussed on railways, landscapes and architecture - with the latter two combining in this image which is appearing for sale at Tajan, Paris, tomorrow (March 4).

It features the Royans bridge, photographed around 1854, in a salt test negative paper piece numbered "No. 53". The work measures 444 x 341mm.

It is one of many images produced by Baldus after the Commission des Monuments Historiques (Historic Monuments Commission) asked him to document architecture in France in 1851.

Baldus's bridge Royans will auction in Paris tomorrow with a €3,000-4,000 (around $5,520) estimate.

• Click here to view our Art & Photography stock items for sale
• Learn how you can get pleasure and profit by investing in fine photography
• Read all the latest Art & Photography new

Join our readers in over 200 countries around the world - sign up for your free weekly Collectibles Newsletter today or download our free Collectors News app for your iPhone

Recent and related articles...

'One and only' authenticated photo of Billy the Kid is valued at $400,000 | 16 February 2011

The outlaw they called 'The Kid' is riding into one of the world's largest Wild West trade fairs, in June

Lowry's elusive $4m football painting could score with top collectors | 3 February 2011

The football season comes to an end in May - but things will kick-off for art collectors

Halfway between art and a Pin Up... Guy Le Baube auctions in Paris | 10 January 2011

Critics say his works elevate cheeky pin ups to art status, and now collectors can judge for themselves

Siamese twins, an astronaut and a Hitler 'mockery' sell in Connecticut | 9 January 2011

The autographs of Chang, Eng and astronaut Alan Shepard are on offer with a classic Szyk caricature

Bonhams' photography sale gives a fresh look at the Beat Generation | 2 January 2011

British photographer Harold Chapman lived among artists and poets in the fabled Paris Beat Hotel

www.paulfrasercollectibles.com

Images: Tajan