Robert Lebeck 5

In this further installment on the great photojournalist Robert Lebeck, Lebeck will cover his passion for collecting post cards and photographs.

Lebeck began collecting photographs at a time when collecting photos was not seen in context with art or business. Mostly at that time photos were bought or traded at flea markets. And that is exactly what Lebeck did, he dug through thousands of photographs and with his salary growing as his career moved on he was able to make bigger purchases from places like the London Auction. He began collecting 19th century photography because he found it to be very unique. He also chose early photography because it fascinated him because he never formally learned photography he was therefore interested in the early years of photography.

What did Lebeck do when he collected everything he could collect on a specific topic? He went on to collect new things. Much can be said of his private life as well since he remarried every 12 years or so, one could say he
collected wives, but probably his travel and constant dispatching to far away places on assignments led Lebeck to remarry so often.