THE AUCTION IS CLOSED

Brilliant quarter-plate daguerreotype of an attractive, happy-go-lucky young lad. At first glance it appears that he was traveling with the luck of the Irish! Dressed in fashionable attire, we have to admit that the hat steals the show in this wonderfully sharp image. The detail in the image is quite nice as evidenced by the comb marks in the young man’s hair. His tie has been tinted with a light red and blue hue and his freckled face has also been lightly tinted. The image is in very good plus condition with beautiful tones and contrast. There is a ring of blue perimeter tarnish and a few scattered spider spots on the plate, the most noticeable on the right and lower perimeters. These show much brighter in the scan than on the plate itself. The daguerreotype had 19 th century seals fully intact and it has now been resealed with a new glass. It is contained in a full leather case with a nice flower design. A delightful portrait to say the least!

When a daguerreotypist has touched all aspects of the joys of photography, especially in the early days, we are quite fortunate. To truly command the essence of his subject matter is quite the rare accomplishment and this enchanting sixth-plate daguerreotype of four attractive women is a perfect example. To begin with, we have a thoughtful pose which captures the close bond between these women. We assume they are sisters, considering the family resemblance; however it is possible the young lady kneeling on the right is the daughter of the woman next to her. These two women gently share a bouquet of flowers resting on the woman’s lap and of the four women they both have the most mesmerizing gazes seen in a daguerreotype. Additionally the photographer not only had a great sense of proportion, but he connected with his muses in a familial way that is evident to the viewer. On the technical side, the daguerreotypist has created an extra layer of contrast by adding a red/brown hue to the dresses of the young woman and our central figure standing in the back. Light flesh tones, gilded jewelry and a blue tinted bow complete this gorgeous portrait. The image is in excellent condition with a band of perimeter tarnish and some small scattered spots. It had old seals partially intact and it has now been resealed with a new glass. It is housed in a full leather case. This is a beautiful piece that would enhance anyone’s collection.

Early to mid-1840’s sixth-plate daguerreotype of a distinguished older gentleman housed in a Bowl of Flowers (Berg 5-118). This case generally contains a John Plumbe label, but this particular example does not have the label. This case is possibly a manufacturer’s error or an early example as the design faces in the opposite direction and the clasp hooks upward. The daguerreotype is on a heavier plate than we typically see in the late 1840’s, with an early Scovills mark and a mat that is a honeycomb design. The image is in very good condition with some light hand tinting to his face. There is a nice ring of perimeter tarnish and some small scattered spots visible; some of which could be removed with a distilled water rinse if so desired. These are much more prominent in the scan than in person. A stray light buffing mark can be seen when in light. The image had partial old seals and has now been resealed with a new glass. The spine of the case is partially intact and fairly sturdy.

Touching sixth-plate post mortem daguerreotype of a woman. This is a very intimate portrait that gives the feeling that she is just having a peaceful rest. If only that were the case. She is posed with a coverlet and other than her face all we see is a hint of her lace top. The fabric draped over the couch or chair has a wonderful pattern which creates an interesting background. The image is in very good condition with light tinting to the woman’s cheeks and lips, along with some perimeter tarnish. The plate still has old seals intact and the current owner has requested we leave it this way. A good portion of the spots that are seen here are on the underside of the glass, but a few are present on the image. It is housed in a full leather case.

Captivating European sixth-plate daguerreotype of a handsome young man sporting a meticulously groomed goatee. Quite fashionable in his appearance, he is posed in the most self-assured manner with his arm resting on the table. Next to him we notice a glimpse of a large plant peeking from underneath the mat. The daguerreotype is in excellent condition with nice flesh tones and subtle tinting to his lips. Primarily all the spots that are seen in the scan are on the underside of the glass and are barely visible in person. The image has been resealed in the past and still has a loop at the top for wall hanging.

Splendid quarter-plate European daguerreotype of a very attractive young woman. She is dressed in fashionable attire with wonderful accessories which include an interesting broach and bracelet. Although this particular piece is anonymous, the flesh tones are subtle and beautifully accomplished, as is so often seen with top notch European daguerreotypists, The previous owner speculated that this was a German image although the exact identification of the sitter is difficult to determine. We have provided a large scan and it appears to read Elise Baen......(?), 1838 – 1860. The photo seems to have been taken sometime between 1856 and 1858. If the information is correct this young woman would be 18 to 20 years old. The daguerreotype is in excellent condition with some light perimeter tarnish and some small spots. The scratch that is seen in the scan is on the cover glass. In fact a large number of the small specks are also imperfections in the original glass. The image is contained in a typical passe-partout presentation and we have cleaned the glass and resealed the image. While it appeared that the piece had never been opened there were a few different 19 th century seals present inside when we secured the image. This would seem to indicate that it had been opened in the past. The original hanging loop is missing.

Fascinating sixth-plate daguerreotype of a working man. While we can’t say that this style of loose fitting clothing is particular to an occupation he is certainly dressed in more casual attire than most sitters for an early daguerreotype. Fashion obviously was not a priority as evidenced by his badly sewn vest and cheap white shirt. Even his collar is unbalanced as one side is up while the other is down. A slight grin does suggest though that this blue collar worker was enjoying his time at the studio. The image is in very good condition with some scattered spotting and a band of perimeter tarnish. There is a very small brush mark on the bottom left side on his white sleeve that is barely noticeable. The daguerreotype has been resealed with new glass and is housed in a full pressed paper case with no preserver.

opening bid: $75

current bid $95

Charming sixth-plate daguerreotype of a mother and her two children. She exhibits a slight grin while the children are the ideal subjects as they remain perfectly still. The boy is dressed in a wonderful outfit, (the optical illusion is of the stripes is unbelievable) and stands straight with his shoulders back and arms by his side. He wears an interesting belt buckle which has the appearance of a daguerreian bracelet. Could there be a photograph tucked inside? The baby seems relaxed and rather casual about this whole experience. The image is very sharp and rich with lovely tones, much better than the scan can capture. It is in excellent condition with some light tinting to the sitters’ cheeks and a nice thin band of perimeter tarnish along with a couple of small spots. It had old seals intact and has now been resealed with a new glass. The images is housed in a full pressed paper case.

Enchanting quarter-plate daguerreotype of a painting of an attractive woman in a semi-profile pose. This is a sharp image that lets us see the artist’s work and style quite easily. The daguerreotype is in very good/excellent condition with a nice blue band of perimeter tarnish. There are two extremely small and light scratches to the left of the woman’s neck and a few small mat marks. The image has been resealed in the past and the original seals are still present in an envelope behind the image. It is housed in a full leather case.

Rare sixth-plate multiple image daguerreotype of nine women. These appear to be sixth-plate daguerreotypes with matching mats mounted in a dark wooden frame. While we are uncertain of the identification of these women, upon close examination it appears most likely to be a family oriented daguerreotype and not a class grouping like we more commonly see. If so, it is quite nice to see the women of the family instead of the men! While there is a slight variation in fashion, each woman wears a black dress and white lace collar. Their hair is also styled in a very similar manner. The image is in very good condition and the daguerreotypist has done a wonderful copy job as each portrait is uniformly sharp in detail. There is a thin line of perimeter tarnish along with a few small spots. A few of the specks are just small bubbles in the glass. The image has been resealed and the remnants of the original seals are tucked behind the plate. It is housed a full pressed paper case.

Intriguing sixth-plate daguerreotype of an older man posed with hands crossed. At first viewing, it appeared that this gentleman was devoutly religious, with a rosary tucked into his vest and the beads cascading over his hands. However, upon further inspection we realized these were not beads - the buttons on his vest are perfectly aligned with his fingernails. He is identified behind the image in the case which reads, Mr. Michael Walter, New Lisbon, Ind . The case design is Wolfert’s Roost (Berg 4-32). The spine has been repaired with an underlayment of pneumatic leather beneath the original leather. The image is in excellent condition with nice detail and tonal quality. There is a band of blue perimeter tarnish and a few small spots. The daguerreotype had old seals intact and has now been resealed with a new glass.

Spectacular quarter-plate occupational daguerreotype of a farm owner and his wife by Perkins of Baltimore. There has been speculation that this image might also have to do with a marriage proposal but we truly think this man was involved in the business of agriculture. He proudly displays an ear of corn, some wheat and what appears to be a bean plant. He is dressed in a more formal outfit than most farmers of this time period, suggesting that he was possibly a large landowner. His wife, on the other hand, while meticulous in her appearance, is definitely dressed in a more conservative manner that is inline with a rural upbringing. The husband seems to be fighting a big grin, but the slight smiles on both of their faces create a very pleasant atmosphere. The image is identified by a velvet mat stamp which reads Perkins Artist, Galleries, North St & 211 Balti. St, Baltimore, MD . Craig’s Registry has this as Palmer Lanfield Perkins, 1850-1860. The daguerreotype is in excellent condition with a small band of perimeter tarnish and a few very small spots. The light lines on the left perimeter are not a wipe or scratch, but some light white chemical residue from the original process. The image has wonderful contrast and tonal qualities with nice bright whites. The image had old seals intact and had been in a personal collection for a number of years. This is a rare occupational image that will be enjoyed for many more years.

Rare Southern daguerreotype by R.L. Wood. According to Craig’s Registry Wood was listed in both Athens and Macon GA as a daguerreian. There is also another R.L. Wood who worked in Columbia, SC and is possibly the same photographer. This particular daguerreotype is identified by a vlevet mat stamp for Wood's studio in Macon GA. In this image the older gentleman is posed with his simple wooden cane. His hair has obviously receded throughout and what remains is styled in a fascinating manner. There are light wipes visible in the scan along with a band of perimeter tarnish. A delightful and rare daguerreotype from the South.

Lovely sixth-plate daguerreotype of a smiling red-headed woman. The daguerreotypist has tinted this fair-complexioned woman’s hair a gorgeous red/auburn color. She is slender in stature and wears a bold printed dress with a broach that has been pinpricked for a wonderful effect. The image is in excellent condition with tinting to the woman’s face and lips and a light band of perimeter tarnish. There is one extremely small scratch just above the broach. The plate had original seals tightly intact so this was most surely an accident by the photographer while pinpricking her pin. It has now been resealed with a new glass and is housed in a full leather case.

Fascinating sixth-plate daguerreotype of a handsome young man. He appears to be large in stature, but his head seems slightly smaller in proportion to his tall frame. He is holding a black lacquered mother of pearl case with pink and gold gilded highlights. The daguerreotypist has done a wonderful job, as illustrated by a pleasant light blue solarization on the man’s shirt which contrasts nicely with the tonal qualities of his large patterned tie. Two books are partially visible on the table and an unusual rare style of mat rounds out the presentation. The image is in excellent condition with a pleasing ring of blue perimeter tarnish and some light tinting to the man’s face. The plate has a very light amount of overall tarnish that is subtle. In raking light there are a couple of very light buffing lines. The image had old seals tightly intact and has now been resealed with a new glass. This beautiful portrait is housed in a worn black lacquered mother of pearl case that is missing its back clasp and the latch.

Outstanding sixth-plate magic ring daguerreotype of a darling young girl. Presented in an oval vignette, she is surrounded by a brilliant blue (the background has a slightly more violet/blue appearance than the scan suggest). This attractive girl is fashionable attired in a wonderful floral print dress with two black fabric wrist bands and a pair of gold-gilded rings. There is a contemporary note that identifies her as Mary Goumans, Medusa, NY 1850. The image is in excellent condition with light tinting to her face and a slight hint of perimeter tarnish. There is an older reseal that was probably done around the turn of the century. There is some spotting visible, but most seem to show reflections indicating they are on the underside of the glass. At the top perimeter on the right side are a few spider marks. The image is housed in a full leather case.

Sharp sixth-plate daguerreotype of a father and his two sons. The youngest appears to be holding a small animal, possibly a tiny bunny in his hand -it is difficult to determine so we will let you be the judge. The plate is in excellent condition with a beautiful creamy white background. There is light tinting to their faces and a thin band of perimeter tarnish. The image had old seals intact and is now resealed with a new glass. It is housed in half of a leather case.

Charles De Forest Fredricks is one of our favorite daguerreotypists and once again he does not disappoint with this lovely quarter-plate daguerreotype of an attractive woman (brass mat identification). Fredricks was one of the more colorful and well traveled daguerreians of the period. According to Craig’s Registry he may have learned the process from Gurney in 1840. By 1843 he was traveling to Venezuela. After finally getting his equipment through customs he purportedly made $4,000 in a three week period. His travels then took him to South America, Paris, and eventually to Para, Brazil, traveling part of the way on the Amazon River. Subsequent locations included South Carolina, NYC, and Havana, Cuba before settling again in NYC. There is a modern identification for the sitter enclosed which reads, A de Etta Bloodgood, married Pease, Frances Stebuns. According to the NY Times archives Miss Bloodgood was an artist in NYC who received honorable mention at the Vienna Prices for the category of wax and leaves.

Posed in semi-profile, Etta is stylish in appearance and seems to be a very strong and confident woman. Her gorgeous full head of hair is fashioned in wonderful ringlets. A pair of necklaces cascade down the front of her dress. She tightly holds onto something attached to one of pieces of jewelry that must be dear to her heart. The arm of Fredricks’ chair is visible on the right side and it appears to be designed for both comfort and support for this particular style of pose. The image is in very good condition with nice flesh tones and light tinting to her lips. The contrast and tonal qualities are quite strong and there is a small amount of perimeter tarnish. The cover glass had a great deal of moisture on the inside and there are a few areas of spotting on the image, most noticeable on the bottom right just below her elbow. This is seen primarily at an angle and in strong light. The image has been resealed with a new glass and is housed in a full leather pushbutton case. This is a lovely portrait by a truly great artist.

Striking sixth-plate daguerreotype of a studious looking gentleman posed with his flutina accordion. Is he perhaps a music teacher? The image is exceptionally sharp and the detail on the accordion is quite amazing. The image is in excellent condition with a small band of perimeter tarnish. The contrast and tonal quality is quite nice with some light tinting to the man’s face. There are a few extremely small specks and a very light haze on the perimeter. This is much more noticeable in the scan than in person. It could easily be removed with a light electrolytic cleaning however we did not think this was necessary. The plate had old seals tightly intact and it has been resealed with a new cover glass.

Sixth-plate daguerreotype of a stately man. There is a wonderful label on the back of the half case that reads Solar Printer at the top along with various options for copy work such as size of the head and face. Below the word Remarks is a signature for J. Fowler. Craig’s Registry has a few listings that could fit, but there is one that is listed as just J. Fowler. He was associated with the Medical College in NYC between 1857 and1860. A date at the bottom of the label appears to read 9/?/60. There is a word which is illegible under Fowler’s signature along with what appears to be another name at the top, possibly that of the sitter. The image has a thin line of perimeter tarnish and a number of spots visible. It has been resealed with a new glass.

Mid- to late-1840’s daguerreotype of a young woman wearing a lovely large hair comb. Her pin and ring have been delightfully pinpricked to add a jewel like appearance. The plate is in very good condition with tinting to the woman’s cheeks. The image has a wide band of dark perimeter tarnish. It had old seals intact and has now been resealed with a new glass and is housed in a full leather case with silk mat and no preserver.

Clear six-plate daguerreotype of a man in a rather cock-eyed pose. He seems to be slightly perplexed by the whole experience, as evidenced by his furrowed eyebrows. The image is in excellent condition with a small area of perimeter tarnish. The plate had original seals and we did an extremely light electrolytic cleaning just to remove some minor yet annoying haze on the perimeter. It has been resealed with a new glass and is housed in a full worn pressed paper case.

Amusing sixth-plate daguerreotype of a man with wild hair. Obviously done by an itinerant photographer, the sitter is posed slightly off-center, with the claw-style arm of his wooden chair partially visible. There is some light tinting to the man’s face and a bit of solarization on the middle of his shirt. A small amount of perimeter tarnish and some small spots are visible. While the contrast and tonal qualities are slightly flat this is still an interesting image. It has been resealed and is housed in half of a pressed paper case.