Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Richard Ferris would find his passion in photography, and cameras. Starting work in the UK in 1947 as a sales rep, developing photos in the back of a Kodak van, he began a career with Kodak at its peak that would last decades, and cross continents.
From 1955 his work in sales would take him to Rhodesia, as it then was - the first commercial photographic venture to do so in the region - from which he would rapidly rise through the ranks. By 1959 he was the technical sales manager for all of Rhodesia, where he would work until 1968.
From there he moved to Singapore, where he would become general manager and managing director of Kodak in Singapore in 1975, grossing $20 million in sales in 1976 and directing activities in a swathe of the Far Eastern region from Thailand to Indonesia. He then returned to Africa as managing director of the near entirety of the South African region, until his retirement in 1986.
The greater part of his collection of Kodak equipment, memorabilia and items is being offered in this auction, coming to market for the first time. It represents the forty years he spent dedicated to his work, and the success of the firm in its expansion into new territory, under his guidance.
