The photos in question had been archived in France's National Centre for Contemporary Arts but many were damaged by water from a leak in the 1990s.
Cartier-Bresson decided that the pictures should be destroyed, however, some of them were seen again in 2001 and it is thought that some of them had been salvaged from the rubbish bin. The photos turned up at an art fair and at auctions.
Franck, who is very annoyed about the matter, has accused the French state of negligence in handling the issue, however, there has been no comment made by officials so far.
