A love of Natchez and a chance to own a piece of its history brought bidders out to a silent auction of Norman photographs at the Historic Natchez Foundation Saturday.

On display were about 200 matted photographs printed by Dr. Thomas Gandy from original negatives of Henry and Earl Norman.

Many of the prints have traveled with Gandy on lecture tours of Europe, Australia, Canada and throughout the U.S. and have been featured in several books about Natchez.

But, Saturday’s auction was the first time the prints were made available to the general public, with proceeds going to the Foundation.

&uot;There are damn few communities that can show 100 years of their existence in photographs,&uot; Gandy said, adding that he felt it was time to share the collection with others. &uot;Natchez is unique.&uot;

Between accepting bids by phone, Mimi Miller, Foundation director, said those photographs of the riverfront and steamboats seemed to be the most popular among bidders, like Dick Thompson.

&uot;I have a fascination for the river like a lot of people and with the antiquity of the riverboats,&uot; Thompson said while guarding a bid on a print of a cotton-laden steamboat.

Gandy said the photos of the river always draw the most interest.

&uot;Everyone is interested in the river, that’s the reason the whole town is here,&uot; said Gandy. &uot;And it’s the most important river in the world.&uot;

Others, like Dorothea Frye preferred the photos featuring people of the day, especially those that clearly showed expressions.

A resident of Washington, D.C., Frye was visiting family in Meadville and decided to spend the afternoon browsing through the collection of black and white photographs.

&uot;I’m trying to find one that’s appropriate, that has a little heritage and is still interesting,&uot; she said.

Elizabeth Boggess was also searching for a photograph with a personal connection, which she found in a print titled &uot;Mystery House.&uot; Though it is no longer standing, Boggess believes the house was part of her family’s history.

&uot;I have known the Gandys for many years and the opportunity to own one of these photographs, and especially one of a house we believe was associated with our family, was just too good to pass up,&uot; Boggess said.

Stephen Guido, who also saw the auction as a last-chance opportunity, confidently said he wasn’t bidding on a photograph – he was buying one.

&uot;I’m buying some photographs that won’t be replicated for a long time,&uot; he said.

But it was the worthy cause that prompted many to wager on the photographs.

&uot;Historic Natchez Foundation is such a great thing for us, and we have to support it any way we can,&uot; Judy Stahlman said. &uot;And these are one-of-a-kind photographs and this may be the last chance to own one.&uot;