ZANE GREY (AMERICAN, 1872-1939) OWNED FOLMER & SCHWING RB AUTO GRAFLEX CAMERA, black hardware and gray-painted trim/components, revolving Graflex back accepting 4" X 5" film currently with a hinged-flap focusing hood, camera serial number 147002, equipped with a Taylor Hobson Cooke Anastigmat f:3.5 7 1/2in. lens, leather viewing hood. Owned and used for nearly 20 years by famous fisherman/big game sportsman/Western writer Zane Grey between 1920 and 1939. Camera produced 1909-1941. 10" x 6 3/8" x 8 3/8" case.
Catalogue Note: The camera is accompanied by original typewritten letter from Dr. Loren Z. Grey (son of Zane Grey) attesting to its provenance as part of a 1979 sale of several cameras to a Dr. Arthur J. Marion, and a copy of Loren Grey's 1985 book Zane Grey: A Photographic Odyssey which discusses some of his and his father's extensive travels with this camera and two other cameras, also in this sale. Dr. Grey and Dr. Marion, for some time, worked together as Associate Professors of Education at California State University, Northridge.

Very good visual condition with less than average wear to body and case, mostly limited to a break at the top handle-holder and rubbing to brass and losses of paint in some areas, but with moderate corrosion/rust/oxidation to some metal components especially inside steel hinges and some of the case screws; mechanical parts each appear to operate relatively smoothly including shutter/curtain; the hood and bellows seem to operate but each has a few small pinholes, and part of hood support will not stay attached causing the hood's baseboard not to catch if opened too quickly; the mirrors produce a viewable but very blurry image; camera has not been tested for functionality (see Catalogue Guarantee).