Impressive rare half-plate daguerreotype taken in Sacramento, CA, and identified by the previous owner as Dr. Elias Braman Harris. This engaging image is identified with a brass mat stamp for Jacob Shew, Sacramento. The Shew brothers had a long career in California but according to Craig’s Registry,
Jacob Shew began his daguerreian career in 1841 in Watertown, N.Y., with his brothers Trueman, William and Myron. They soon moved and built a skylight gallery in Ogdensburgh. They traveled to Rochester and then to Geneva, N.Y. Still not profiting from the process, they moved to New York City and established the firm of L.P. Hayden & Co. at 1 Park Place. It is interesting to note that in 1842, when Edward Anthony was listed as a daguerreian at 11 Park Row, this was the address one source documents as having been recently vacated by the four Shew brothers. Jacob went on to work in Baltimore and eventually moved to California. Craig’s Registry sites various years for the move but one source had him arriving in California in 1849. He was working in San Francisco as late as 1856 and was first listed in Sacramento in 1857.

According to Find a Grave, Dr. Elias Braman Harris was born in 1824 in Richfield Springs, NY. “In 1841 he entered New York Medical University and completed his studies under the world-renowned authority in surgery, Dr. Valentine Mott, graduating in 1847. He is also shown in 1848 at the College Of Surgeons. He arrived in San Francisco in 1850. According to a published history of Amador County, “Dr. Harris acted quite a prominent part in the early settlement of Amador County. He was a successful physician as well as a miner.” There are numerous other accolades as he was the owner of the Harris and Newton Hotel, helped build the State Agricultural Society and taught singing. He was early to the Washoe mines and put up a custom mill. In 1854 the Oneida Mine and mill was leased to Harris to develop. A man of never ending energy, he acted in many roles such as fireman, engineer, amalgamator, machinist and miner. When the civil war started he joined the Union and was a full surgeon with the rank of Major. This historical daguerreotype shows Harris as a man in his thirties. Posed in semi-profile, he has a slight smile on his face and somewhat unruly hair. Shew’s technical abilities are superior, showing a great amount of detail, including Elias’s soulful eyes that have seen the golden days of California through numerous professions.
The plate had old seals intact and it appeared it hadn’t been opened since the 19^th century. There is an overall tarnish that could be professionally restored if desired. We decided to leave it in its original untouched state as the plate itself is in excellent minus condition with no marks or scratches. We have resealed the image with a new glass. This was purchased without a case but we have supplied a full period leather case for enclosure. We have not found any early photos of Harris but there is a paper print of him from a later date. In it, his hair is thinner on the top and he is sporting a full beard but his facial features appear the same. Larger identified California daguerreotypes are becoming increasingly difficult to find so don’t miss buying this amazing example!

Opening bid: $350

Current bid: $

Intriguing sixth-plate daguerreotype of a freckle-faced young woman posed with an unidentified object.  Our first thought is this is a circular framed daguerreotype as we see what appears to be a hint of a figure in the center. Unfortunately it has reflected from the studio lighting so it is hard to determine and could also be a decorative item with personal meaning. This bright plate is in very good plus condition with superior tones and contrast. The reflecting screen or window on the right side has done its job by supplying a nice bright light. There is a small pinpoint nick in the plate on the woman’s cheek on the left side. There are a few other small spots as seen. The image has been resealed in the past and is housed in a full case.

Opening bid: $75

Current bid: $

Appealing 1840’s sixth-plate daguerreotype of a rugged yet handsome man. His face is slender but his jaw and chin line are quite chiseled. He is posed with a tense and intimating stare and has long bushy hair on the sides. We see some overall tarnish on the plate that creates some delightful, unusual patterns that presents a special illusion. The image is in very good plus condition with nice tones and contrast. This could be restored but it be would a shame to remove this cool tarnish. The image had old seals and has been resealed with a new glass. It is in a well-worn case that has the top pinch pad missing.

Rare early sixth-plate Richard Beard daguerreotype with a patented oval repeating embossed star mat. The image is presented in a thick flip top sixth-plate case; it measures slightly over a ninth-plate and has been over-matted to the larger format like we often see with British daguerreotypes. There is an early tin pinch tray and someone has done a crude signature that reads, “R. Beard, 1845.” This was obviously done at a later date and we feel this is a circa 1841-42 plate. The woman is posed semi-profile with her hair in ringlets which flow down the sides. The tones are darker as we see with earlier plates and there is some spotting throughout. It appears to have been cleaned in the past. It is resealed with a new glass and the beautiful deep plain leather case when closed is 1” thick.

Dynamic occupational sixth-plate daguerreotype of a dashing gentleman holding his gold-gilded level. This handsome man wears a large stove pipe hat and has removed his suit jacket, displaying not only his fashionable side but also establishing that he is all business. We bet he had the majority of customers in the area! On the right we see the photographer’s reflecting screen or possibly part of a window. The daguerreotype has great tones and contrast with a hint of tint to the man’s cheeks. There are some mat rubs on the perimeter that are more prominent on the right and bottom sides. A hint of a very light swipe in the tarnish top left is as seen. The image has a previous reseal and it is housed in a worn full leather case.

Touching double sixth-plate combo of a mother and father posed with their sons. The first image is a tender daguerreotype of a father with a protective arm around his adorable boy. The child leans into a cozy pose as his dad holds his hand to let him know all is okay. His father is quite proud and shows off his son with a slight grin on his face. He wears a stylish suit with a cool tie. The young lad is equally fashionable with his long streaming locks. They are posed in front of a gorgeous backdrop with a hint of a boat on the water and mountains and clouds in the background. It is slightly hard to see but dad’s stove-pipe hat sits upside down on the table slightly blocking the view. The daguerreotype is in very good plus condition with great tones and contrast along with a little tint to their faces. There are some mat marks as seen that blend into the tarnish and the glimmer of an ever so tiny ding in the background on the right. The other image is an ambrotype of mom with their eldest son. He looks just like his younger brother and while mom has his arm around him, you can tell he is too old for this pose in his opinion! Both wear nice outfits with the mother’s jewelry and watch gold-gilded. The contrast and tones are nice with a hint of toning and some light tint to their faces. The image is housed in a worn geometric union case with a crack on the front clasp area and nicks on the corners.

Opening bid: $80

Current bid: $

Dominating quarter-plate daguerreotype of George Brush Walbridge. This is not only identified by a handwritten note but there is an extensive history of the Buffalo, N.Y., Walbridge family online, along with a paper image of George from an album page of a similar date. According to WikiTree,
George Brush Walbridge, son of David Walbridge, was born in Bennington, Vermont, September 14, 1814. About 1830 he came to Buffalo and became a clerk in the wholesale grocery of Augustus Colson. In 1835 Col. Ira A. Blossom established him in the grocery business, himself becoming a special partner. Later Mr. Walbridge became the senior member of the firm of Walbridge & Haydeu. In 1849 Mr. Hayden retired, and a new firm was organized under the style of George B. Walbridge & Company. In 1847 the store was destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt the next spring. Shortly afterward Mr. Walbridge sold his interest and retired. In the meantime Mr. Walbridge had become interested in lake transportation. He built several sailing vessels and later purchased the steamers Tecumseh, Diamond and Fashion, forming, a regular line between Buffalo and Cleveland. Afterward Mr. Walbridge established a line of propellers between Buffalo and Grand Haven, Michigan, and also ran boats to Chicago, Milwaukee and other ports. In politics he was a Whig. In 1849 he was President of the Board of Trade, and was one of the original trustees of the Buffalo Female Academy. In January, 1836, Mr. Walbridge married Miss Wilhelmina C. L. Colson, daughter of the Rev. Karl Colson of Meadville, Pa. Of the children the following survive: Charles E., and Harry Walbridge of Buffalo; Mrs. Charles Warren Butler of Plainfield, N. J.; Mrs. Henry Woodley Musson of Kansas City; Mrs. Edward Potter Bowen of La Salle, N. Y. The second son, George B. Walbridge, Jr., died in March, 1880, at Plainfield, N.J.
George died in 1852 and is buried in Forest Lawn cemetery in Buffalo. He was certainly a man of stature as his prominence and dominant demeanor shine through in this image. His slender build gives way to his sharp fashion sense and we especially love his striped vest. The detail in this daguerreotype is amazing, particularly in his intense eyes. This historical image has splendid bright tones with great contrast.  There are some light buffing type lines on the top right side with a couple tiny spots on the bottom right. This plate had old seals tightly intact and we have resealed it with a new glass. The image is housed in a nice floral designed leather case.

Opening bid: $290

Current bid: $290

Cool sixteenth-plate daguerreotype of a dashing young boy posed in his stylish wide-brimmed white hat. He has a sense of panache that will surely serve him well later in life. We also love his huge bowtie, which he pulls off without a hitch. The daguerreotype is in very good plus condition with lovely tones and contrast. There is some tarnish as seen. The image had some old seals partially attached and it is now resealed with a new glass and housed in a full case.

Extremely rare mother of pearl trinket or jewelry box that has two daguerreotypes mounted under the lid. When opened we see a daguerreotype of an attractive young woman and a handsome young man. These custom images measure approximately 1 ¾” x 2” and the lovely box measures 2 ¼” x 4 ½” x 1”. It is all mother of pearl on the outside except for the bottom which is covered in felt that might have been a dark purple at one time. There is a small silver plate on the top that would be used for engraved initials, however it is blank. There is a light purple silk pad on the opposite side and while it might have been used for jewelry or other keepsakes it could have also housed two additional daguerreotypes. The images have nice tones and good contrast. The woman’s image has some light overall tarnish with a hint of cloudiness that is barely noticeable. The man’s image has a creamy white background with some small light scratches to the left. There is a scratch on the cover glass on the bottom. The mother of pearl has some wear, toning and some small chips. We doubt you’ll find anything this unique so add it to your collection while you can!

Intriguing sixth-plate daguerreotype of a fascinating gentleman sporting a small pepperbox pistol tucked into his jacket. This guy has a bit of a psycho look to him with his eyes wide open and fists tightly clenched. We are also curious about the cloth-covered area directly behind him as we can’t tell if he is standing or sitting. Perhaps this was done by an itinerant photographer who captured his image on the road and immediately left town after encountering this man! The plate had old seals still partially attached and you can see it was overexposed, giving us this cool blue hue. There is a cloudy area at the top that could possibly be professionally removed but we like the atmosphere it creates, especially with this strange character. The image has been resealed with a new glass and it is housed in a full case.

Extraordinary rare oversized square sixth-plate daguerreotype by R.M. McIntosh, identified by a brass mat stamp. The plate measures 3 ¼” x 3 ¼” –a size we have not seen before. The daguerreotypist actually cut two identical mats and preservers and pieced them together! According to Craig’s Registry, R. M. McIntosh was a “daguerreian in Northfield, Ver., 1853 and later. He moved to town in 1853, and was reported there as late as 1898.” We have a feeling this was made before McIntosh “moved to town” as it certainly has that itinerant feel. This spectacular daguerreotype shows two cool Vermont gentlemen. Whether partners in crime or family members, they both share a sense of fashion with stylish white vests matched to their bright, early cowboy-style hats. The cigars hanging from their mouths add to their bad-ass appearance. The younger man places his hand on his buddy’s shoulder while the older man grabs the lapels of his vest. His wide-eyed pose and slightly sunken face is fantastic! These are not guys you’d want to start a fight or play poker with!  The plate is in excellent minus condition with lovely tones and contrast. There is one green spot on the hat of the older man and a couple of tiny spots above the hat. The image has been resealed with new glass. There was no case but we have created a crude half leather case for safety. This will certainly be a favorite addition to your collection!

Ghostly ninth-plate postmortem of a young woman wearing a bonnet and holding a single rose. Her eyes are open so this could perhaps be a pre-mortem image, but we sense the photographer was trying to present a more life-like image for the family. The image was most likely captured in her home as the background is dark which adds to the slight spooky feeling of this daguerreotype. There are some scratches and spots as seen and we have resealed it with a new glass. It is housed in half of a case.

Opening bid: $75

Current bid: $120

Charming sixth-plate daguerreotype of brothers which will certainly bring a smile to your face. The oldest gives the photographer a classic “stink-eye” while his younger counterpart is casually posed. Their outfits are precious as the older brother shows signs of sophistication compared to his siblings’ ramshackle appearance. One thing is certain; they are thick as thieves as they lock arms. We bet the older lad never let harm come to his brother unless it was a sibling squabble! The plate is in excellent minus condition with great tones and contrast. It is resealed with a new glass and it is in half of a case.

Regal sixth-plate military daguerreotype of a handsome young soldier in a Napoleonic pose, hand tucked into his jacket and looking relaxed and confident. The lovely backdrop is simple, showing a ship sailing on the water with green trees along the shoreline and mountains in the background. Lightly tinted clouds pass in the sky, adding a great sense of movement. The edge of a column is also seen on the left side. The plate has great tones and contrast and gold gilding to the soldier’s buttons. There is a wispy mark seen at an angle on his hair, left side, and a few light scratches. There are some tiny mat marks as seen and a slightly cloudy area on the bottom of the plate. While this is housed in an American case this is most likely an English image. It has been resealed with a new glass.

Opening bid: $400

Current bid: $

Lovely gold hanging locket with an exceptional daguerreotype of a regal gentleman who exudes confidence. He appears to have done quite well for himself judging from his formal suit and beautifully styled thick hair. The daguerreotype is in very good condition with nice tones and contrast. There is one small scratch on the outside of the glass on the left side of his face below his nose. The back is a vibrant gold and has a thick hook for hanging. This is slightly smaller at 1 3/8” x 1 5/8”,not including the ring at the top. It feels more elegant and refined than the typical larger lockets and would look beautiful on a necklace.

Opening bid: $95

Current bid: $95

Exceptional quarter-plate daguerreotype of a young couple celebrating their new engagement or possibly their first portrait as a married couple. While technically this could be a brother and sister, they don’t appear to be siblings. They are a bit tense, with their hands fidgeting about in a slightly uncomfortable manner. She seems to wear a simple band on her finger but tries to hide it tucked in her sleeve.  Both wear melancholy expressions but that makes this beautiful plate even more lovely! The young woman is gorgeous in her fashionable outfit, indicating that she is from a prominent family. The fit is meticulous and the large tie that highlights her lily white blouse is wonderful. She wears a jeweled belt buckle and a wide ribbon bracelet with large hoop earrings. The young man is also stylish in wonderful plaid pants and a unique vest decorated with ferns. The plate is quite striking, with beautiful tones and contrast. It is in excellent minus condition with a wisp of some very light brush lines at the top. The plate had old seals attached but we believe these were re-glued sometime in the past. We have since resealed it with a new glass. It is housed in a full black lacquered mother of pearl case with an area on upper left flower missing some mother of pearl pieces.

Striking half-plate French daguerreotype by Vaillat, identified with his beautiful signature bottom left. This gentleman is clearly a man of means and cuts a dashing figure in his perfectly fitted suit. His fashionable attire includes a stunning velvet vest with a dramatic wide tie and cool light-colored pants. He adds a hint of flare to his dignified pose by tucking his hand into his innovative pocket. To make sure you know he is highly educated, Vaillat placed two books on the table that hang precariously over the edge. We also love the hint of the extremely ornate arm of the studio chair as seen on the left side. This plate is in excellent minus condition with picture perfect tones and great contrasting blacks and whites. It had old seals intact with an original blue backing loosely covering the back of the passe-partout. We carefully opened the center section to clean the glass and safely resealed the image. It is housed in the original frame that is missing some pieces of the decorative elements on the perimeter; this could be restored if desired. The front of the passe-partout reverse paint has some wear as seen. According to Janet Buerger’s book “French Daguerreotypes”, Eduard Vaillat was an optician who began advertising his photographic talents at Palais Royal in 1845. An original member of the French Society of Photography, he ceased advertising for photography in 1861. A stunning piece that will hang perfectly on the wall!

Dynamite sixth-plate occupational daguerreotype of a slender young man wearing one of the cooler hats we’ve seen. So far, we have been unable to determine the gold-gilded symbol on it, and in a contemporary nod, we love the way he wears it slightly cockeyed. The man is quite stylish and his gold-gilded pocket watch has significance as it sits atop the books on the table. Possibly his timepiece had something to do with his profession? The image is in very good condition with some hand-tinting to his face. Under magnification are seen some small tiny black spots on the plate. It had olds seals intact and has been resealed with a new glass. It is housed in a lovely leather case.

Spectacular quarter-plate French daguerreotype of an older gentleman posed with a large American family daguerreotype. He is identified as Louis Laffitte, Bordeaux, Ernest Laffitte Brautigaui’s great grandfather. We aren’t quite sure of Ernest’s last name but we have provided a scan. We did a quick search and found one Louis Laffitte, born in 1790, but in Toulouse.  Louis sits in a Napoleanic pose, with his half-plate American daguerreotype leaning against the decorative silver floral vase. The family consists of a father with his daughter on his lap, another daughter to his left and his wife on his right side. The silver piece holds delicate hand tinted flowers possibly floating in water. This daguerreotype is as sharp and detailed as you will find. Every strand of Louis’s hair and all the age lines he has acquired over the years are visible. His eyes are slightly tired and sad, perhaps thinking of the American family in the photo next to him. The plate is in excellent minus condition with lovely natural hues on his face. The flowers have been tinted pink with green added to the leaves. The image had old seals still fully intact; we resealed it after cleaning some spots on the inside of the glass. It is presented in a tortoise shell passe-partout and paper gilded mount, and is housed in a flip top plain leather case. A tiny corner piece on the top rail of the case is broken and it has a slight warp.

Lovely sixth-plate daguerreotype of an attractive young woman with her arm at her waist. She is wearing a wedding ring so perhaps she just learned she is pregnant. She is dressed in a simple black gown that is perfectly fitted and accentuated by a beautiful large bow and a lovely curricular pin, along with gold hoop earrings. This bright plate has fabulous tones and contrast with a few small spots as seen. It has been resealed and it is housed in a full case. The inside velvet has a small tear.

Lovely hand-tinted undersized quarter-plate daguerreotype by the illustrious William Edward Kilburn.  The image measures approximately 3” x 3/5/8” with the case being 3 5/8” x 4 ¼.” The case is marked with Kilburn’s gold double crown emblem on the front and his 234 Regent Street address. This should date the daguerreotype to 1853-1859. Kilburn is commonly known for his portraits of the British Royal Family but we all know his daguerreotypes are the essence of elegance. This plate is no exception as we see this gentleman stylishly positioned in a typical semi-profile pose. He wears a fashionable suit with a high starched white collar and a beautiful patterned tie that has a slight glisten due to the quality silk. The plate exhibits great tones and contrast with lovely tint to the man’s face and lips along with a stunning red color applied to the upholstered chair. We see Kilburn’s customary tinted sky with the best clouds you will find. The image is in very good plus condition with a hint of a mat line on the right side where the image moved in the past. We have safely resealed this with a new glass and it is housed in a full case. There is a slight warp on the edge of the case which prevents the clasp from closing.

Whimsical had tinted sixth-plate daguerreotype of a happy woman that will put a smile on your face. Her outfit is simply fabulous and one of the most unique we have seen. The numerous fringed layers create a delightful optical illusion! The daguerreotypist has added some pop with a stunning light red/pink color applied to this fascinating outfit. An added bonus is the slight solariztion of the whites that give it that light blue contrast. A bright red broach is the final touch but this doesn’t appear to have quite the delicate hand that was used on the dress. There are a number of vertical lines/light scratches throughout the plate but the contrast and tones are nice. We have resealed it with a new glass and it is housed in a full case.

Dazzling sixth-plate late 1840’s daguerreotype of a dashing young man with long curly locks. He is posed with his arms crossed, exuding a sense of determination, and is identified with a handwritten note that reads Townsend Cocks. There was a Townsend Cocks in New Hurley, New York, who was noted as a farmer in a later census which doesn’t quite fit this young man. The plate has very strong tones and contrast along with light tinting to his face and lips. There are a few wispy swipe/scratch lines in the background on both sides. There is also a patchy area with small spots on his left shoulder as seen. We assume this was from some moisture on the glass that adhered to the plate in the past. We have resealed the image with a new glass and it is housed in a full case.

Lovely sixth-plate English daguerreotype of an elegant woman holding a small bouquet of flowers. Her hair is styled in ringlets and she wears a gorgeous gown with beautiful lace highlights. We have yet to determine what is partially visible on the right side on the table. It could be a hat or hat box or just a decorative element. A scan of the entire plate is provided for you to see. The image is in very good condition with subtle tinting throughout. It had old seals attached and has been resealed with a new glass. It is housed in half-case.

Vibrant sixth-plate daguerreotype of a dreamy young man with dark rich eyes and a look of amazement on his face.  We love the contrast in his outfit between the pink/blue hues of his shirt and the stark white vest. This is complimented by a cool polka-dot tie. His dark thick mop of hair is longer on top but the sides are cropped shorter. This plate has wonderful detail and is in excellent minus condition. The tones and contrast are beautiful with some tarnish. There is one tiny line on the right bottom perimeter, but since this had old seals intact, we suspect this was done during the preparation or exposure. We have resealed it with a new glass and it is in half of a case.

Great gold watch/locket which houses a terrific daguerreotype of a smiling, handsome gentleman. As soon as you open this you see that fabulous grin! The image is in excellent minus condition with stellar tones and contrast. The watch case opens with ease at the edge without a pushbutton mechanism. We personally prefer this style. The case has a union shield on the front and the back has a simple small circle in the middle. There are a couple tiny dings.

Sharp sixth-plate daguerreotype with a brass mat stamp for McClees, Phila.  This was, of course, the prominent James E. McClees of Philadelphia. According to Craig’s Registry, McClees was reported to have begun his photographic career in 1844, working for M.P. Simons. From 1847-55 he was in partnership with Washington Lafayett Germon. By 1857 he was listed alone at 160 Chestnut but also opened a gallery In Washington D.C. McClees is credited with making the first collodion negative in this country. Posed in semi-profile this gentleman almost manages a slight grin beneath his bushy mustache. His hair is thinning in the front but is still quite full on the sides. The image is in very good condition with nice tones and contrast and some light tint to the man’s cheeks. There is some overall light plate tarnish in various places as seen with one little swipe line on the right side. There are some small spots but a few are under the glass. It has a previous reseal and it is housed in half of a case.

Mesmerizing double sixth-plate daguerreotype of an older couple housed in a full floral, gilded Memory’s Leaflet case. The husbands’ image immediately consumes us with the amount of detail in his long weathered face. We also love his bowl haircut in the front with some longer strands hanging down the sides. His eyes are wide open and a little unsettling under magnification. The sharp plate has strong tones and contrast with a hint of tint to his face. At an angle in light there are some buffing lines visible. His wife’s portrait is equally intriguing, as at first glance it appeared to be a painting. The detail is equally nice with her portrait in a semi-full length pose showing all but her legs. She wears a fringed drape with a simple white border. Her white bonnet and blouse add that lovely level of contrast to her black dress which fades slightly at the bottom. He grin is slightly crooked with a hint of some hair on her upper lip. The plate is in very good condition with nice tones and contrast. There is one small ding just to the left of her elbow. There were old seals on both plates and we have since resealed them with new glass. The case is in excellent minus condition with some color and gold gilding still seen on the flowers.