(Spanish American War: William McKINLEY) (1843-1901) A large mounted silver print photograph, 175 x 255 mm. (6 7/8 x 10 1/8 in.) on a 245 x 355 mm. (9 3/4 x 14 in.) mount, c. 1898, showing McKinley seated on the deck of a ship together with (from right to left) Generals Joseph Wheeler, Henry Lawton, William R. Shafter and Joseph W. Keifer. Image originally published as a stereoview by Strohmeyer & Wyman. Very rare in this larger format.
Bottom portion of mount, lower margin rough as shown, some moderate silvering.
(EXA 5644) $125
[Abraham LINCOLN] George AYRES (1829-1905) after Alexander HESLER (1823-1895), mounted albumen photograph, 215 x 174 mm. (8 1/2 x 6 3/4), a portrait of Abraham Lincoln in near profile printed from the original negative. (Ostendorf #26)
Chicago photographer Alexander Hesler was invited to photograph Lincoln in Springfield in June 1860 soon after his nomination for President at the Republican National Convention. During the sitting in the Old State House Hesler took three portraits. Lincoln remarked upon seeing the proofs, “That looks better and expresses me better than I have ever seen; if it pleases the people I am satisfied.”
This photograph is considered one of the finest ever taken of Lincoln. His law partner William Herndon noted of it, “There is the peculiar curve of the lower lip, the lone mole on the right cheek, and a pose of the head so essentially Lincolnian; no other artist has ever caught it.”
Artist George B. Ayres acquired two of Hesler’s original negatives following the close of the Civil War and made a living selling prints of them from the 1880s through the turn of the century. Ayres’ original interpositive for this image was broken in transit in the 1930s.
Housed in a deep and ornate victorian frame (14 x 12 in.) with gilt trim.
Some loss to backing from previous housing in a twentieth century photo album, slightly trimmed, however the albumen is in superb shape with very little evidence of wear or fading.
(EXA 5437) $2,500
(Chief Joseph) Cabinet-card photograph, 138 x 99 mm. on a 164 x 107 mm. (6 1/2 x 4 1/4 in.) mount with printed title label “Chief Joseph”. affixed below the image, with photographer’s credit “D. F. Barry PHOTOGRAPHER BISMARCK D.T.” on verso. Additionally identified in the negative “Chief Joseph”.
One of the earliest portraits of the Nez Perce Chief Hinmatóowyalahtq̓it (1832-1904) — popularly known as Chief Joseph. Chief Joseph famously led his band of Nez Perce against the U.S. Army’s efforts to evict them from their ancestral homeland in northeastern Oregon. After a 1,100 mile fighting retreat against an American force led by General Oliver Otis Howard, Chief Joseph surrendered on 5 October 1877 following a five day battle only forty miles short of the safety of the Canadian border.
The original negative was taken by photographer Orlando Scott Goff (1843-1917) soon after Chief Joseph’s capture in November 1877. The next year, Goff took on David F. Barry as an apprentice. Barry soon established himself as an accomplished photographer in his own right and became a partner in Goff’s studio. In 1883, Barry opened his own studio in Bismarck, Dakota Territory where he remained until 1890 before moving to Superior, Wisconsin where he spent the remainder of this life.
Very minor spotting else very clean with superb contrast and depth.
(EXA 5245) $1,450
(Native Americans) Carte de Visite of two Native American women and a girl, with pencil identification on verso reads “Brownsville Texas” No photographer’s credit. Possibly by the German-born photographer, Louis de Planque who established himself in Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Mexico around 1864 working in the area until 1868.
Minor wear at top right corner, else fine condition.
(EXA 3717) $400
(Photography) A marvelous sixth plate daguerreotype of a young boy, seated, holding a figure of a lion in his lap. Housed in a clean brass mat and an attractive thermoplastic case bearing a relief of a woman with a falcon (Berg 1-112)
A very clear and sharp image in very fine condition.
(EXA 4134) $600
(John Heath and the Bisbee Massacre) Real-photo postcard of the public lynching of John Heath (5 1/2 x 3 3/8 in.) captioned at top in the negative: “Hanging of John Heath Tombstone Arizona”and dated “1885” in black ink. The Ohio-born Heath moved to Arizona via Texas in the early 1880s where he served for some time as a deputy sheriff in Cochise County. Not finding the occupation lucrative, in December 1883, Heath masterminded a bank robbery that resulted in the shooting deaths of five residents of the town of Bisbee, Arizona. Heath did not personally participate in the robbery or the shootings but was found guilty of second degree murder and conspiracy to commit robbery for which he was sentenced to jail. So incensed were the local residents at the leniency of the sentence that a mob of 50 broke into the Tombstone jail and summarily hung Heath on a telegraph pole.
Offered together with a second real photo postcard, 5 1/4 x 3 1/8 in., captioned in the negative: “DOCTOR HUERTA ELLENTE, LEADER OF GANG, HUNG IN MEXICO FOR HOLDUP AND MURDER.”
Mild crazing to emulsion, else fine condition overall. Together, two pieces.
(EXA 4056) $1,950
(Fire Fighting) Sixth-plate tintype, an arresting full length portrait of a Fireman holding his coat with his arm around his dog who is seated on a chair. His hat and clothes have been expertly tinted red. Housed in a painted glass mat and a very unusual japanned and over painted leather case with mother of pearl inlays.
Some minor bends and discoloration to tintype, else very good to fine condition.
(EXA 4135) $1,950
(Photography) A wonderful half-plate daguerreotype of a young boy holding a sword c. 1853. The boy stands on a stool that appears to have been covered in fabric (and later tinted blue). Housed in an ornate brass map and leather case. Ex Jack Naylor Collection.
Some oxidation at margins not affecting image, else very good to fine condition. Exterior of case bears some moderate dampstains.
(EXA 4136) $2,750
(Photography) An exquisite sixth-plate ambrotype of a drummer boy, dressed in civilian clothing (but with a very martial look about him!) Housed in a brass mat and leather case. Ex Julian Wolff Collection.
Very clean (light speckling only on glass), else fine.
(EXA 4132) $1,800
(Photography) Sixth plate Daguerreotype of a brother and sister, the latter holding a doll. Housed in a plain brass mat and thermoplastic case.
Some minor oxidation at margins, else fine.
(EXA 4133) $750
