Photographs thought to be the "last" ones taken of Florence Nightingale, widely-considered as the "Founder of Modern Nursing," is set to auction this Thursday, Dec. 7, at a Rosebys sale in London called "Fine & Decorative."
The photos will be sold as a part of Nightingale's "rare personal collection of items," according to Rosebys' website. All in all, the collection is set to sell around £15,000 to £25,000, or $19,000 to $31,000.
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History of the Nightingale Photos and Collection
Measuring to a mere 2.3 by 2.3 inches, or 5.9 by 5.9 centimeters, the sepia-toned photos were reportedly captured by Nightingale's close companion in the latter parts of her life, Eliza Francis "Fanny" Pettit. The photos, shot around 1910, shows Nightingale sat in an armchair, smiling.
Jack Wallis, an art specialist at Rosebys, shared to CNN that they are certain the photos were taken "in the final weeks or months" of the nursing icon's life. Before the photographs were slated to sell in the auction, they were solely exhibited at London's Florence Nightingale Museum.
"What makes them so special is their personal, candid nature... they are informal shots captured for posterity by a close friend to remember a much-loved principal," Wallis added.
Accompanying the pictures in the collection are medical and optical prescriptions for Nightingale, dated November of 1907; a tiny rectangular silver-plated tea caddy and a rose-patterned travel teapot gifted to Nightingale for her years of service; and six letters addressed to Pettit.
One of the letters were written by Nightingale's housekeeper, Elizabeth Bosanquet, who recounted her last hours alive, writing, "She passed away quietly at 2pm yesterday resting on her pillows just as she had been placed the night before," as per Rosebys.
"It was very peaceful and merciful and one is so thankful she slept away with no suffering. We shall all be the better for her wonderful influence," Bosanquet wrote.
