[WESTERN AMERICANA - MINING]. Quarter plate and sixth plate tintypes of gold miners, including portrait of identified "California Gold Seekers," James Standley and Nate Hadden. Ca 1860.

Sixth plate tintype portrait of two gentlemen (bending/creasing to plate, with spotting and surface scratching, wear/image loss in certain areas; unsealed.) Housed in a pressed paper case (surface wear, repair to spine). Subjects identified on inscribed paper housed in case: "James Standley, Nate Hadden, 1860 or so, California Gold Seekers." The pair of bearded men are featured sitting side-by-side, with unknown gold-highlighted accessories (perhaps pins of some kind?) on their shirts.

The 1850 census records a James Standley, 17 years of age, living in Newtown in Yuba County, California, and working as an unspecified "miner." The men in the image look to be in their 20s-30s, making this a plausible record for the man in the photograph.

[With:] Quarter plate tintype portrait showing a pair of aging gold miners. (Image rather dark, with myriad surface abrasions, rusting, image loss behind mat; mismatched mat and preserver; unsealed.) Housed in a pressed paper case (surface wear throughout).

This fascinating scene centers around a pan containing gold-highlighted nuggets. The man holding the pan is seated on a chair or stool, and appears to sport a long graying beard; he shows off the gold by pointing to the nuggets with his free hand. The other man, sporting a gray goatee, also points to the nuggets; he appears to have a pick axe with a long wooden handle leaning against his torso.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.