In 1981 I was asked to research the artist Iso Rae when good friends, Edward and John Barkes bought a folio of  her WWI  pastels in a saleroom in London where John was based, and wanted to include some drawings in an upcoming exhibition at Christopher Day Gallery in Sydney.  So in 1982 when a McCubbin like little painting of a Young Girl in the Woods signed Iso Rae came up for sale at Leonard Joels art sale. I was one of the few people in the room who knew about her.  Estimate was $100-300 and It sold for $1,800 to a South Australian antique dealer who just liked the painting. I was the underbidder. 

In those days, the Leonard Joes sales were held three times a year at Malvern Town Hall. Other auction houses would time sales around the dates. At times over 2000 pictures were sold over three days, the more expensive pictures were sold on the first night and lesser estate pictures, artists' studios and unknown works were sold during the long days. Dealers and collectors would come from overseas and all over Australia. They were terrific!

In 1983 I opened my own gallery and was given exhibitions by John and Edward Barkes including Iso Rae pastels in a number of Early exhibitions.  As a result Iris Fields 2012 we launched The Letters of Alison and Iso Rae by Iris Field in my gallery.