While we have all seen daguerreotypes that make us smile or laugh the word comical is almost unheard of in the daguerreian era.  There have been numerous books and articles discussing the evolution of early photography and most center on approximately the time of the tintype and paper images as the beginning of the truly absurd perspective.  By this point the price was so cheap anyone could have fun in the studio or make fun of themselves and still have a number of formal portraits to share with family and friends.  Photographers were also experimenting as the process became more affordable.  Glancing through all the glorious volumes of daguerreotype photos from collections and museums you will find limited examples of anything like this sixth-plate daguerreotype we have the pleasure of offering.   This spectacular image was part of an unknown collection of photography in Decatur, IL that we recently purchased.  The collector made a number of notes on where he purchased certain items.  This was contained in a homemade paper sleeve which reads, “this is a gag shot of a college boy to his dad, showing he is learning to drink & smoke, but is not doing so well academically.  (Dunce Cap), approx. 1850?  He purchased the image 1984 at Monte’s, a flea market held at the Civic Center in central Illinois.    

While there is not a period note to confirm the collector’s description, this young man certainly does have the look of your typical fraternity brother.  The look on his face is quite familiar and priceless.  There is no doubt he thinks he has the world at his feet, well at least until the hangover tomorrow.   His outfit is stupendous- from the large patterned scarf to the huge pointy dunce cap.  In fact his last act in grade school might have been to steal this hat from his teacher!   The flask he is holding looks quite detailed so this young man is possibly a child of means.  One thing we have our doubts about in the previous owner’s assessment is that he was sending this to his dad.  It was probably the center point for art and excitement in his fraternity’s house!  This plate also could have been the beginning of a daguerreian career for one of the fellow’s buddies.   No matter what the night’s course of events entailed for this young drinker we are fortunate to have documentation of his travels.  The image is in very good condition with a band of perimeter tarnish.   There are some light buffing lines visible and the contrast could be slightly stronger as this it mostly likely an itinerant or local rural daguerreotypist taking the photograph.  The image has been resealed with new glass and is housed in a beautiful full leather case.   Thus will truly be the one of your most talked about images in your collection.      

Fascinating sixth-plate daguerreotype of a woman holding a European daguerreotype of a woman that was framed in its passé-partout presentation.   It is a little difficult to determine, but the image is quite possibly her daughter or a sister, wearing a lovely over-the shoulder dress.  After staring at the portrait under magnification for long periods we swear it could also be Jenny Lind.  Wishful thinking we’re certain!   This woman is very plain in style and with her dark outfit could signify that this is mourning portrait.  However, with the European format it could also suggest that this was the only option for her to pose with this particular love one.  They might have even exchanged daguerreotypes just for this purpose.  Whatever the scenario we have changed mats on this piece to give it a more open format.  The original mat is included as well.  This sharp daguerreotype is in very good plus condition with nice details.  There is a little light tarnish haze seen on her dress and it is much more noticeable in the scan than in person.  There are mat marks where the original mat was present.  Old seals were tightly intact and we have resealed the plate with a new glass. 

Sixth-plate daguerreotype of an intense young man in semi-profile pose.  He is dressed in a very expensive outfit with a wonderful silk bowtie. This is truly a striking plate with wonderful detail, contrast and tonal qualities.  The blacks are extremely rich in contrast with the bright whites and a very light color has been added to his face.  The photographer is identified with a brass mat stamp that reads Kearsing, 323 Broadway.  According to Craig’s Registry William Kearsing was listed at this address in business by himself from 1848-49.  From 1849-51 he was listed at 177 Broadway in partnership with G.T. Kearsing.  When considering the mat and design on the case this fits perfectly with the dates of 1848-49.  Judging from the quality of this plate we can only hope that Kearsing worked unlisted for a number of years as it is quite spectacular!  The image is in excellent condition with a beautiful band of perimeter tarnish.  It has been resealed with a new glass and is housed in half of a leather case with an early floral design. 

Fun sixth-plate daguerreotype of a cocky young blonde-haired gentleman posed in a very casual manner.  He sits with the chair turned sideways and has a distinctive lean to the left side of the plate.  The table is positioned behind him and seems slightly out of place but then it maybe a ploy by the photographer to keep him from tilting his chair and falling over!  He appears very large in stature and his head seems slightly smaller than his body’s dimensions.   The image is in excellent minus condition and there is a light dirty grey/blue hue to the man’s shirt.  A hint of perimeter tarnish is visible and the plate has been resealed with a new piece of glass.  It is housed in a full leather case with floral design and a red silk pad on the inside.  Opening bid - $85

Intriguing sixth-plate daguerreotype of a dark and mysterious young gentleman.  This is quite a captivating portrait and we would love to know this young man’s story and heritage.  He has thick, wavy hair styled in a slightly unusual manner with a swirling peaking at the top.  His large eyes appear hollow yet soulful and we can imagine he is either a deep thinker or on a difficult path.   His interesting outfit includes a floral-designed vest and a large bowtie with the ends heavily fringed on the left side.  A gold-gilded flower is seen attached to his shirt.  The image is in very good minus condition with one light swipe line extended from the left background to under the beginning of his beard.  The tones and contrast are quite lovely and bright.    The image had a very light electrolytic cleaning to remove numerous tarnish spots and one larger spot is still visible by his shoulder on the right side.  A little perimeter tarnish is also still seen.   It is housed in a half of a leather case and has been resealed with a new glass. 

Gorgeous stereo daguerreotype of an attractive woman identified on the back with Antoine Claudet’s label for 107 Regent Street.  An older identification written in ink reads Rosa D’Aquilar, Sister of G.P.’s second wife.  Our brief search did not turn up any information on this name but it would be a great research project for a collector.  According to Janet Buerger’s book, French Daguerreotypes,  Claudet went to Paris in 1839 to learn the daguerreotype process and by 1840-41 had set-up a professional studio in Adelaide Gallery.   There are too many of Claudet’s accomplishments to list here but he was one of the earliest to propose a method of hand coloring and of course was known for his extensive use of color.  This piece is no exception.  Our lovely young woman is sporting a wonderful, large, pink-tinted bow.  Her black dress has been decorated with beautiful blue stripes on the existing pattern and she is casually leaning against a red-tinted pillow.  While just visible, the settee’s fabric is tinted red, too.  She is wearing an exquisite large gold-gilded band bracelet with red ruby highlights for the jewels.  Her rings and necklace have also been gilded and, in typical Claudet style, lovely flesh tones have been added throughout.   The 3-D effects are wonderful and both images are in very good condition.  There is just a hint of tarnish or a light haze on the right perimeters.   The passé-partout mat has been resealed sometime in the past.  If you are looking for a stereo daguerreotype this is a delightful piece with a possible rich history just waiting to be discovered!      

Rare sixth-plate daguerreotype identified with a velvet mat stamp for the traveling daguerreian wagon identified as Helia, information courtesy of Craig’s Registry.  While there is virtually no information about the artist this would make for an extremely interesting research project.  It would be wonderful to track the travels of this daguerreian studio.   With a simple pose the photographer has captured a very touching portrait of a loving, middle aged couple holding hands.  The man extends his arm around the woman’s shoulder as they stare intently towards the camera.  Even more endearing is the thought that had it not been for this traveling artist our couple’s genuine love would have been relegated forever to family stories.  What a bonus that their romance can now continue in your collection!   The plate is in very good plus condition with light tinting to their faces and lips.  There is a band of perimeter tarnish and a few spots visible.  Old seals were tightly intact and it has been resealed with a new glass.  The full leather case has separated at the hinge.  While the sides are different - grapes on the front and a geometric pattern on the back -the leather and gilding match perfectly.  We have left the case in its original condition for historical accuracy. 

Wonderful sixth-plate daguerreotype of an older woman posed in a simple black dress with bonnet and scarf and wearing dark gloves.  The daguerreotypist has done a perfect job of capturing every wrinkle and line in her face.  The detail under magnification is amazing and we can see she was a hard-working woman who has seen her share of life.  The image is in excellent condition with a band of perimeter tarnish and some spots visible in the scan.  It had an older reseal and the glass has now been replaced with a modern reseal.  It is housed in a full pressed paper case with the inside red velvet pad embossed with a basket of flowers.

Charming and artistic sixth-plate daguerreotype of two sisters.  The photographer has been identified with a light brass mat stamp for White.  The older girl seems quite comfortable with this experience as if she has been looking forward to this day for quite a while.  Her younger sister is a little less relaxed as she tugs on her big sister’s sleeve.  Her other hand rests gently on her shoulder for additional support.  Both are very cute but we can see that one is becoming a young woman while the other is still enjoying childhood.  The little girl wears a very plain outfit and her hair is combed but seems unruly.  Her sister, on the other hand, is perfectly composed in a beautiful patterned dress with her hair meticulously styled and firmly in place.   We are unsure of the location of this image as there are numerous Whites in Craig’s Registry.   Unfortunately without some distinguishing feature such as a tablecloth or backdrop this would be impossible to identify.  Regardless, this is a beautiful plate in excellent condition with a light band of perimeter tarnish.  It has been resealed with a new glass and is housed in half of a leather case. 

Illuminating sixth-plate daguerreotype of an attractive young man.  Perfectly composed, with his hair smartly styled, he wears a beautiful floral patterned vest.  His striped tie has been tinted a subtle yet lovely light-blue/ green color and the daguerreotypist has pin-pricked the buttons on his shirt.  This plate is in outstanding condition with great detail and clarity.  Lovely tonal qualities and contrast along with some light tinting to his face and some perimeter tarnish round out this wonderful piece.  The daguerreotype has been resealed with a new glass and it is housed in half of a leather case.

Rare sixth-plate Mascher Monocular Viewing case, Berg 9-14, which contains a daguerreotype of a distinguished gentleman.  He is well dressed with a silk vest and has quite a serious expression on his face.  The case and viewer are in very good plus condition with the hinge replaced with pneumatic leather.  The image is also in very good plus condition with light tinting to his face and a wide band of perimeter tarnish.  The daguerreotype has been resealed with a new glass. 

Spectacular sixth-plate daguerreotype of a smiling, handsome sailor sporting a very small soul patch on his chin.  Obviously he was really ahead of the times!  He appears to be a calm force and we are sure that his shipmates appreciated a positive person like this aboard their vessel on those long, arduous journeys.  His outfit is a perfect illustration of 19^th century sailors’ attire, with a heavy over-shirt with a wide V- opening, a pocket, and of course the slightly tattered bowtie and he wears a gold-gilded pin on his crisp white shirt.  He was possibly docked in NY at one time because this image is in half of a leather case with a Plumbe NY Depot label inside the case.  The plate is in excellent condition with sharp details.  There is some light tinting to the man’s face and lips.  A band of blue perimeter tarnish extends somewhat into a light brown tarnish which creates a wonderful pattern in the plate similar to ripples in the water.  There is just a hint that it has crept on to the top of his head but quite honestly it would be a shame to clean this image.  It has been resealed it with a new glass. This was also from the Decatur IL collection and is truly a wonderful image that everyone will enjoy!

Intriguing sixth-plate daguerreotype of a fascinating gentleman who is missing a finger.  He could have the digit tucked into his vest but that would seem to be an awkward pose.  It is difficult to determine if he is wearing a black suit or a vest under the ill-fitting light cloth jacket or overcoat.  He is leaning on a large book and has a somewhat blank, slightly goofy stare on his face.  He is also either wearing a great deal of oil in his hair or he hasn’t washed it in sometime.  Either way it has made it easier for him to curl on the left side of the part!  In our opinion the perimeter tarnish has created the fascinating illusion of a framed painting.  The plate is in very good condition with his hands tinted in flesh tones.  His cheeks are also colored although the photographer has gone a little heavy on the rosy appearance which seems to round out this odd portrait.  There are a few light tarnish spots visible and the image has been resealed with a new glass.  It is housed in a decent leather case with a great geometric pattern that is quite nice in its design. 

Artistic sixth-plate daguerreotype of an attractive young woman wearing glasses.  Her pose and studious appearance suggests she was possibly a fan of Rodin’s TheThinker.  She wears a lovely fashion-forward black silk dress with large fringe highlights around her bust line.  A lace collar and sleeves provide a beautiful contrast.  Posed coyly under her chain, finger pointing upward, she presents a scholarly yet divine portrait.   The image is in very good with a wide band of perimeter tarnish that makes for a wonderful presentation.  There are some scattered spots also visible and the plate had a partial old seal in place.  We have now resealed the daguerreotype with a new glass and it is housed in half of a leather case with a grape design.

Marvelous sixth-plate daguerreotype of a handsome young man sharply attired with the crowning piece being his wonderful Lincoln-style stovepipe top hat.  While the sitter commands our attention the hat dominates this portrait!  The image is in very good plus condition with tinting to the man’s face and lips.  There are a few small tarnish spots visible and a lovely band of perimeter tarnish which somewhat creates the illusion of a magic ring.  There is a very light haze or plate tarnish that could be easily removed with an electrolytic cleaning if so desired.  However, with the pleasing nature of the natural tones we decided to leave this as history has created.  Old seals were still attached when purchased and it has been resealed with a new glass.  It is housed in a full worn leather case with a red silk pad inside.   The design is Lady with Palm Branch 2 (Berg 4-54).  The front cover is well worn and the back is in good shape with nice detail and a small piece of leather loss at the top left corner.   The hinge has been replaced with pneumatic leather.

Wonderful pair of sixth-plate daguerreotypes of a husband and wife, both showing brass mat stamps in the upper left corner for McElroy.  There are six McElroy’s in Craig’s Registry but we feel this is most likely by John McElroy from Locke, NY.  Another source also had him located in Auburn, NY.   Both sitters are posed in the same setting with the husband leaning on the table.   His bride has her hands crossed on her lap showcasing one of the lovely red tinted bows on her wrists.  We can barely see the matching tinted bow on her other wrist as it is primarily covered by her hand.  While we assume this is a married couple neither wears a wedding band or ring.  Both plates are in excellent condition with nice tones and contrast.  Each had old seals firmly intact and they have now been resealed with a new glass.  They are housed in an extremely worn black lacquered mop case which is missing a large piece of the mop and the back clasp is missing a pin.  You can close the latch and a new small brad nail glued into place would solve this problem.  The hinge has also been replaced. 

Nice sixth-plate daguerreotype of a serious boy posed in a somewhat casual manner with his arm resting on a book.  His upscale outfit suggests school clothes and he seems quite focused for a young man his age.  This image is in very good condition with a couple of small spots and a few very light buffing lines.  This plate was extremely tarnished with the lad’s face just barely visible.  It had an electrolytic cleaning and has been resealed with new glass.  It is housed it half of a pressed paper case.

Commanding sixth-plate daguerreotype of an older gentleman with a great face and beard.  The photographer is identified with a brass mat stamp for C.D. Fredricks, 585 Broadway, N.Y.  This is a wonderful character study with multiple layers, from the sitter’s thick wavy hair to his marvelous bushy white beard which is accented by a dark mustache.  One other interesting feature is that his watch holder is actually a piece of hair jewelry, which is rarely seen in a man’s portrait.  Charles DeForest Fredricks has a wonderful history as a daguerreotypist working all over the world.  For the complete story please see Craig’s Registry.  Fredricks worked at this location towards the end of the daguerreian era, between 1859-60.   The plate is in very good plus condition with one spot on the left side on his shoulder.  The daguerreotype had old seals intact and we have resealed it with a new glass.  It is housed in half of a case.

Interesting sixth-plate daguerreotype of a rough and rugged gentleman with a huge wild beard and mustache that seems to protrude in every direction.  If not for the suit and a Philadelphia ID we would swear this might be from the West, with him just back from a big gold strike and celebrating his fortunes with a new suit!  While we are unsure of his profession our sitter surely commanded respect from most and was not intimated by any supplier or banker!  The image is identified by a velvet mat stamp to Reimer’s Gallery, 397 N. 2^nd AB. Green, Philadelphia.   According to Craig’s Registry, Benjamin F. Reimer worked at this address from 1851-57.  An interesting side note is that a source identified him as associated with the anti-slavery movement.    The image is in very good minus condition with a number of small spots, including a few spider marks.  There is a heavy perimeter tarnish of various shades of color on the right side of the plate.  Under magnification a couple of small copper spots are noticed by the mat and a few pinprick size ones located on his vest.   The image could benefit greatly from an electrolytic cleaning but we will leave that to the new owner.  There is light tinting to the man’s face and a hint of gold on his watch chain.  The image has been resealed with a new glass and it is housed in a nice full leather case with the front design being Bird and Grapes (Berg 5-33). 

Sweet ninth-plate daguerreotype of a little girl posed in a fabric-covered chair and wearing a sharply patterned, off-the shoulder dress.   She is very much the cutie with her eyes wide open watching the photographer’s every move.   The image is in excellent condition with lovely tones and contrast.  Her cheeks have been lightly tinted and the nice band of perimeter tarnish has moved slightly on to the top of her head.    The image had partial old seals and has now been resealed with a new glass.  It is housed in a very nice glossy pressed paper case with a repaired spine.