[EARLY PHOTOGRAPHY]. Rare pre-fire half plate ambrotype featuring West Van Buren Street in downtown Chicago. Ca 1860.

Half plate street view of downtown Chicago, showing several commercial buildings along the north side of West Van Buren Street including a "Meat Market" and a boot and shoe store. Several subjects stand along the street to be captured by the photographer's camera, including a bizarrely-dressed "character" standing in the back of a wagon at center. The man appears to be wearing some kind of headdress and long fur garment, and to be holding an axe or tomahawk in ready position. (Abrasions and image loss at edges, darkened area on image at lower right, otherwise minor scratches, and scattered spotting.) Sealed in a period stenciled frame.

Frame verso with ink pen inscriptions from former owner, Harold C. Walther of Bloomington, IL, identifying the exact location of the scene along with the address and owner of the featured meat market (219; Mr. Jakob Walther). A "Jacob Walther" is listed in the 1880 US Federal Census as a butcher, living at 217 East Van Buren Street in Chicago.

A window of the boot and shoe store reads "R. Walther / Boot [&] Sho[e] / Store." R. Walther could be the man pictured wearing an apron just outside of the store.

It is likely that a member of the Walther family commissioned this image showing the two businesses and that the image was descended in the family, eventually to Harold C. Walther, who owned it as late as 1975 according to the inscription on frame verso.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.