Several iconic images of the Clarence Valley will be auctioned online after they were recently uncovered in the spare bedroom of a Victorian property.

The original glass negatives which feature views of the Clarence River, Market Square, Prince Street, Jacaranda Avenue, the old Grafton Bridge and Yamba beaches, will go under the hammer as part of The Rose Stereograph Company Collection.

Spruiked as one of the most significantly historical photographic collections in the country, The Rose Stereograph Company Collection was founded in the 1880’s by George Rose and Herbert Cutts and continued operating for close to 150 years.

It remains an incorporated Australian company today.

The collection features more than 100000 images including photographs of the Gallipoli Landing, champion racehorse Phar Lap’s 1930 Melbourne Cup triumph and Ned Kelly’s armour taken at his trial in Melbourne.   

Chief Operations Officer for Lloyds Auctions Lee Hames, said the original glass negatives in the collection capture “the very first moments of not only local Australian history, but world history.”

“We believe this to be a World first, to offer these tangible original glass plates which rival any modern photographic resolution,” he added.

“This has to be one of the most important photographic collections in Australia if not the world, and that’s why we have taken considerable measures and invested heavily in state-of-the-art technology in order to honour the owners of one of the most significant photographic collections in Australian history.”

The current custodians of the collection, Stephen and Jeffrey Cutts, released a statement revealing it is with great sadness they say goodbye to a collection that spans across five generations and 140 years.

“We understand that for these historically important pieces to rest with one family is to deny others the pleasure of their custodianship,” the statement read.

The Rose Stereograph Collection and subsequent images to be auctioned can be viewed online at https://www.lloydsauctions.com.au/photo

Several images of the Clarence Valley have already attracted numerous bids.

All images to be auctioned include a certificate of provenance.

Bidding will conclude on many images within the next several days.