Leonard McCombe (British b. 1923 – DOD unknown)
Bevin Boys – British Youths Drafted into Mines, 1945-1948
Vintage ferrotyped gelatin silver print
Photographer’s credit stamp under typewritten title label on verso; PIX label and photographer’s PIX code “CHUR” also on verso
Print size: 6 ¾ x 9 ¾ inches
Mat size: 11 x 14 inches
Condition: Overall Good; a few handling marks throughout; one ½-onch tear in middle right edge, barely affecting the image, ALL visible only in raking light and under very close inspection; all typical of a photograph of this time period and made for the purpose of the press
LMC-ENG-01
Retail: $1500
Bevin Boys were young British men conscripted to work in the coal mines of the United Kingdom, between December 1943 and March 1948. Chosen by lot as ten percent of all male conscripts aged 18–25, plus some volunteering as an alternative to military conscription, nearly 48,000 Bevin Boys performed vital and dangerous, but largely unrecognised service in coal mines. Many of them were not released from service until well over two years after the Second World War ended.
Ernest Bevin (9 March 1881 – 14 April 1951) was a British statesman, trade union leader, and Labour politician. He co-founded and served as general secretary of the powerful Transport and General Workers' Union in the years 1922–40, and as Minister of Labour (1940-1945) in the war-time coalition government. He succeeded in maximizing the British labour supply, for both the armed services and domestic industrial production, with a minimum of strikes and disruption. His most important role came as Foreign Secretary in the post-war Labour government, 1945–51.
BIO:
Leonard McCombe (British b. 1923 – DOD unknown) (LIFE / PICTURE POST):
Born in England, McCombe was able to create provocative images naturally. His abilities led him to become a fellow of the Royal Photographic Society at age 21.
Through World War II, his images told of the struggles and triumphs of the day. By 1948, McCombe’s role in the US was solidified as a photographer for LIFE. Career Girl, where McCombe featured the daily life of 23 year old Gwyned Filling from Missouri, became a go to feature on the captivating nature of photography.
The following year, the rugged cowboy took hold when McCombe photographed Clarence Hailey Long on the JA Ranch, Texas. McCombe’s image inspired Leo Burnett to propose and ultimately create advertising history with the Marlboro Man advertising campaign.
In Haywood Magee’s bio: “He was one of Picture Post’s top photographers along with Bert Hardy and Leonard McCombe.” -- M Gallery
McCombe is listed as “Photographic Staff” in 1962’s December 21st and 1971’s February 12 issues of LIFE Magazine.
In 1950, McCombe was chosen as News Photographer of the Year by the Encyclopedia Britannica and the University of Missouri.
LIFE Publications:
1947: LIFE: Sep 29, P. 31-37
1948: LIFE: Jul 19, p. 18-19, 22-25, 66, 68-69
1949: LIFE: Dec 12, COVER, p. 72, 76
1950: LIFE: Feb 6, p. 96, 98
1950: LIFE: Sep 11, p. 61-62, 189-196
1950: LIFE: Apr 10, p. 12-15
1953: LIFE: Aug 17, p. 93
1953: LIFE: Dec 14, p. 24-28
1962: LIFE: Dec 21, p. 16-36 (The Seven Seas), p. 100
1964: LIFE: Jun 19, p. 34-35
1965: LIFE: Oct 22, P. 104, 108, 114, 120
1966: LIFE: Nov 18, p. 96-97, 100-101, 104-107
1971: LIFE: Feb 12, p. 38-45
1972: LIFE: Dec 15, p. 32-39
PIX Publishing Agency:
We are now representing a large collection of prints from P.I.X. (PIX) Publishing Inc., the photography agency founded in New York City in November 1935 by German photographers Alfred Eisenstaedt & George Karger and photography agents Leon Daniel (chief of Associated Press in Berlin from 1927-1935) & Celia Krutschuk, all of whom fled Nazi Germany and found their new homes in NYC.
In 1973, the PIX Publishing agency archive was donated to an east-coast library where it has since been housed. As of this year, the collection is in private hands.
PIX represented such photographers as Cecil Beaton, Ferenc Berko, Edouard Boubat, Josef Breitenbach, Robert Capa, Joe Clark, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Ed Feingersh, Laura Gilpin, John Gutmann, Nina Leen, Don McCullin, Marion Post-Wolcott, Willy Ronis, Fred Stein, Ezra Stoller, Julian Wasser, Garry Winogrand, George Zimbel and many more.
PIX also worked with the prestigious agencies Camera Press, Dalmas, Gamma, and Holmes-Lebel, among others. PIX also represented Gökşin Sipahioğlu and Gilles Caron, the founders of world-renowned SIPA Press.
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