CAMERALESS PROTO-PHOTOGRAPH PULLED FROM AUCTION

A primitive image believed to be taken decades before what is widely considered to be the dawn of photography has been pulled from an upcoming auction to allow further research as to its authorship. The image of a leaf was scheduled to be sold at Sotheby’s next Monday, and was listed in the auction catalog as “Photographer Unknown.” But Sotheby’s said research by a leading photo expert had suggested that several early photo experimenters could have made the image, including Thomas Wedgwood, James Watt, and Humphry Davy, who worked in the medium decades before what is believed to be the birth of photography in 1839.

“Leaf” is a photogenic drawing — a cameraless process in which an object is placed on silver nitrate-coated paper or leather to form a negative image.

It had previously been attributed to William Henry Fox Talbot, considered the father of photography along with Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre.

On Wednesday, Sotheby’s said it decided to pull the lot because the upcoming auction had generated “a spirited and lively dialogue” among photo scholars “about the possible origins for the ‘Leaf.'”

“This conversation has revealed new areas of research, which will be explored in the coming months,” the auctioneer said.

Associated Press

DICKENS’S CHAIR UP FOR CHARITY AUCTION

The chair and desk at which Charles Dickens wrote “Great Expectations” among other works will be sold by Christie’s International on June 4.

The mid-19th century mahogany furniture, at which Dickens worked the day before he died of a stroke at Gad’s Hill, Kent, in 1870, will be included in a June sale of valuable books and manuscripts in London. It is expected to fetch up to $159,000.

The pieces have been entered by Jeanne-Marie Dickens, wife of the late Christopher Charles Dickens, a direct descendant of the author. Proceeds will be donated to the Great Ormond Street children’s hospital in London, which Charles Dickens supported in its early years. The cash will buy equipment and fund research.

Dickens has been portrayed working at the desk in a number of paintings and drawings. It is the subject of a well-known Victorian engraving by Luke Fildes, “The Empty Chair, Gad’s Hill — Ninth of June 1870,” lamenting the death of the author.

Bloomberg News

CAREY OUSTS THE KING

With her 18th chart-topper, “Touch My Body,” Mariah Carey has passed Elvis Presley for the most no. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, and is now second only to the Beatles.

But while the diva was in full celebration mode after learning of her latest milestone, she was also quick to put her accomplishment in perspective.

“I really can never put myself in the category of people who have not only revolutionized music but also changed the world,” Ms. Carey, 38, said.

“That’s a completely different era and time. I’m just feeling really happy and grateful.”

Ms. Carey’s song is the new no. 1 single on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart and is also no. 1 on the trade magazine’s digital download chart thanks to a precedent-setting 286,000 downloads in its debut week. She had been tied with Presley with 17 no. 1 singles; the Beatles are the all-time leaders with 20. Madonna also beat a Presley record this week, surpassing the King for the most top-40 hits with her 37th for her hit “4 Minutes.”

“Touch My Body” is the first single off of Ms. Carey’s upcoming album “E=MC2 , ” due out April 16.

Associated Press