Personal Collection of Swinging Sixties Star Photographer Sam Haskins comes to Sloane Street Auctions on September 24
UNITED KINGDOM, September 15, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The iconic personal collection of one of the most celebrated photographers of the 1960s comes to auction at Sloane Street Auctions on September 24.
Consigned by the son of Sam Haskins (1926-2009), it includes 78 original images from the three Swinging Sixties photobooks that made him famous: Five Girls (1962), Cowboy Kate & Other Stories (1964), and November Girl (1967).
Born in South Africa, Haskins was a British photographer who made his name in the 1960s with this trilogy of figure photography books and played a key role in defining that decade despite working far from the world’s style capitals in a commercial studio in Johannesburg.
While other photographers worked with celebrity models, Haskins found inspiration among friends, family, colleagues and off the street. Model agencies didn’t exist yet or set builders or make-up artists.
As Norman Hall (Picture Editor at the Times), explained in his forward to Cowboy Kate (1965), “Sam Haskins’ studio came alive at night with his personal creative projects. It was a place where the smell of pine sawdust and paint constantly filled the air. He built his own sets, personally printed his work and in the case of November Girl crafted the make-up.”
Although he made his name in the 1960s, Haskins set off on his career in photography in the late 1940s, arriving in London to study the artform in 1949.
“The post-war city (food rationing was still in place) represented an explosion of inspiration for him, enhanced by the contemporary visual and cultural excitement around the Festival of Britain,” wrote Norman Hall. “He returned permanently in 1968 with his wife and their two sons opening a studio in Glebe Place, Chelsea, a studio which itself became part of the cultural landscape of the city through the 70s.”
Haskins did work with celebrity models at the end of his career, but he initially became famous for literally turning the girl next door into icons of their decade. He was a huge influence on the fashion world but deliberately kept the glossies at arm’s length for most of his career.
“As can be seen from the highlights on offer in this auction, the images he created helped shape the zeitgeist of both the Swinging Sixties and the early Hippy era that followed,” said Sloane Street Auctions’ owner Daniel Hunt.
“We are very grateful to his son, Ludwig Haskins, for entrusting us with these works.”
“Wonderful works like this are often to be found in our auctions, especially since the demise of Christie’s South Kensington, whose catalogues they might previously have graced,” said Daniel Hunt. “We have been delighted to pick up the baton where they left off as the premier source of such lots, and it is also a happy coincidence that our auctioneer, Hugh Edmeades, was Christie’s South Kensington’s former chairman.”
Live online bidding is available via Sloane Street Auctions’ website at www.sloanestreetauctions.com
For further information contact info@lucasfieldmedia.com Tel 07968 952850
Images courtesy of Sloane Street Auctions
Hat
Cover image for Sam Haskins’ 1962 book Five Girls. Printed c.1980 in double weight silver gelatin, from a limited edition of three. In excellent condition, with image measuring 15.3 x 11.4 in. Estimate £300-500.
Stream
Gill Staring Into Stream, from Five Girls (1962). Printed 1961, in double weight silver gelatin, the only known copy. Image measures 15 x 8in. Estimate £300-500.
Curl
Gill and Curl, from Five Girls (1962). Printed 1961, in double weight silver gelatin, the only known copy at this scale. Image measures 11.6 x 9.7in. Estimate £300-500.
Notch
Anna in Notch Set, from Five Girls (1962). Printed 1961, in single weight silver gelatin, the only known copy. Image measures 6.9 x 11.7in. Estimate £300-500.
Vivi
Vivi in the Long Grass, from Cowboy Kate (1964). Printed 1963 in single weight silver gelatin, one of only two copies. Image measures 14.6 x 11.4in. Estimate £300-500.
Flowers
Vivi Behind Flowers, from Cowboy Kate (1964). Printed 1963 in single weight silver gelatin, only known copy. Image measures 13.9 x 5.9in. Estimate £300-500.
Kate
Front cover image for Cowboy Kate (1964). Printed c.1980 in single weight silver gelatin, from an edition of six. Image measures 11.4 x 15.3in. Estimate £300-500.
Holster
Kate Gunbelt Standing Front Both Hands, from Cowboy Kate (1964). Printed c.1980 in double weight silver gelatin, from an edition of five. Image measures 11.4 x 15.3in. Estimate £300-500.
Braid
Cheating the Ace, from Cowboy Kate (1964). Printed c.1980 in double weight silver gelatin, from an edition of five. Image measures 15.7 x 11.5in. Estimate £300-500.
Skip
Kate Running – Single Bum, from Cowboy Kate (1964). Printed c.1963 in single weight silver gelatin, only known copy of this version. Image measures 15.1 x 5.9in. Estimate £300-500.
JailKate in Jail with Three Windows, from Cowboy Kate (1964). Printed c.1963 in single weight silver gelatin, from an edition of four. Image measures 15.7 x 20.4in. Estimate £300-500.
Pensive
Pensive on the Beach, from November Girl (1967). Printed 1966 in single weight silver gelatin, from an edition of five. Image measures 14.5 x 11.7in. Estimate £300-500.
Dream
November Girl Flower Dream, from November Girl (1967). Printed 1966 in single weight silver gelatin, one of only two known copies. Image measures 15 x 12.1in. Estimate £300-500.
Marsh
November Girl Running Across Marsh, from November Girl (1967). Printed 1966 in single weight silver gelatin, one of three known copies. Image measures 15 x 12.1in. Estimate £300-500.
Consigned by the son of Sam Haskins (1926-2009), it includes 78 original images from the three Swinging Sixties photobooks that made him famous: Five Girls (1962), Cowboy Kate & Other Stories (1964), and November Girl (1967).
Born in South Africa, Haskins was a British photographer who made his name in the 1960s with this trilogy of figure photography books and played a key role in defining that decade despite working far from the world’s style capitals in a commercial studio in Johannesburg.
While other photographers worked with celebrity models, Haskins found inspiration among friends, family, colleagues and off the street. Model agencies didn’t exist yet or set builders or make-up artists.
As Norman Hall (Picture Editor at the Times), explained in his forward to Cowboy Kate (1965), “Sam Haskins’ studio came alive at night with his personal creative projects. It was a place where the smell of pine sawdust and paint constantly filled the air. He built his own sets, personally printed his work and in the case of November Girl crafted the make-up.”
Although he made his name in the 1960s, Haskins set off on his career in photography in the late 1940s, arriving in London to study the artform in 1949.
“The post-war city (food rationing was still in place) represented an explosion of inspiration for him, enhanced by the contemporary visual and cultural excitement around the Festival of Britain,” wrote Norman Hall. “He returned permanently in 1968 with his wife and their two sons opening a studio in Glebe Place, Chelsea, a studio which itself became part of the cultural landscape of the city through the 70s.”
Haskins did work with celebrity models at the end of his career, but he initially became famous for literally turning the girl next door into icons of their decade. He was a huge influence on the fashion world but deliberately kept the glossies at arm’s length for most of his career.
“As can be seen from the highlights on offer in this auction, the images he created helped shape the zeitgeist of both the Swinging Sixties and the early Hippy era that followed,” said Sloane Street Auctions’ owner Daniel Hunt.
“We are very grateful to his son, Ludwig Haskins, for entrusting us with these works.”
“Wonderful works like this are often to be found in our auctions, especially since the demise of Christie’s South Kensington, whose catalogues they might previously have graced,” said Daniel Hunt. “We have been delighted to pick up the baton where they left off as the premier source of such lots, and it is also a happy coincidence that our auctioneer, Hugh Edmeades, was Christie’s South Kensington’s former chairman.”
Live online bidding is available via Sloane Street Auctions’ website at www.sloanestreetauctions.com
For further information contact info@lucasfieldmedia.com Tel 07968 952850
Images courtesy of Sloane Street Auctions
Hat
Cover image for Sam Haskins’ 1962 book Five Girls. Printed c.1980 in double weight silver gelatin, from a limited edition of three. In excellent condition, with image measuring 15.3 x 11.4 in. Estimate £300-500.
Stream
Gill Staring Into Stream, from Five Girls (1962). Printed 1961, in double weight silver gelatin, the only known copy. Image measures 15 x 8in. Estimate £300-500.
Curl
Gill and Curl, from Five Girls (1962). Printed 1961, in double weight silver gelatin, the only known copy at this scale. Image measures 11.6 x 9.7in. Estimate £300-500.
Notch
Anna in Notch Set, from Five Girls (1962). Printed 1961, in single weight silver gelatin, the only known copy. Image measures 6.9 x 11.7in. Estimate £300-500.
Vivi
Vivi in the Long Grass, from Cowboy Kate (1964). Printed 1963 in single weight silver gelatin, one of only two copies. Image measures 14.6 x 11.4in. Estimate £300-500.
Flowers
Vivi Behind Flowers, from Cowboy Kate (1964). Printed 1963 in single weight silver gelatin, only known copy. Image measures 13.9 x 5.9in. Estimate £300-500.
Kate
Front cover image for Cowboy Kate (1964). Printed c.1980 in single weight silver gelatin, from an edition of six. Image measures 11.4 x 15.3in. Estimate £300-500.
Holster
Kate Gunbelt Standing Front Both Hands, from Cowboy Kate (1964). Printed c.1980 in double weight silver gelatin, from an edition of five. Image measures 11.4 x 15.3in. Estimate £300-500.
Braid
Cheating the Ace, from Cowboy Kate (1964). Printed c.1980 in double weight silver gelatin, from an edition of five. Image measures 15.7 x 11.5in. Estimate £300-500.
Skip
Kate Running – Single Bum, from Cowboy Kate (1964). Printed c.1963 in single weight silver gelatin, only known copy of this version. Image measures 15.1 x 5.9in. Estimate £300-500.
JailKate in Jail with Three Windows, from Cowboy Kate (1964). Printed c.1963 in single weight silver gelatin, from an edition of four. Image measures 15.7 x 20.4in. Estimate £300-500.
Pensive
Pensive on the Beach, from November Girl (1967). Printed 1966 in single weight silver gelatin, from an edition of five. Image measures 14.5 x 11.7in. Estimate £300-500.
Dream
November Girl Flower Dream, from November Girl (1967). Printed 1966 in single weight silver gelatin, one of only two known copies. Image measures 15 x 12.1in. Estimate £300-500.
Marsh
November Girl Running Across Marsh, from November Girl (1967). Printed 1966 in single weight silver gelatin, one of three known copies. Image measures 15 x 12.1in. Estimate £300-500.
Julia Macquisten
Lucas Field Media
+44 7968 952850
info@lucasfieldmedia.com
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.