American Historical Ephemera and Photography

Lot comprised of 6 images, including the following:

Half plate daguerreotype portrait of a seated gentleman (tarnish to edges, image under mat and cover glass, but not sealed). Philadelphia, PA: Root's Gallery. Ca 1840s. Housed in full leather case with velvet mat stamped, "Root's Gallery, 140 Chestnut St., Philada." (significant wear to case, fully separated at hinge). A modern tag from "Samuel T. Freeman & Co." is affixed to the front cover, identifying the subject as "John Frazer, 1812-1872." The image was offered as lot 789 in a 15 March 2000 auction, and the attribution to John Frazer cannot be confirmed. John Fries Frazer (1812-1872), American scientist, editor & teacher, chair of Chemistry & Natural History at the University of Pennsylvania, one of the founders of the National Academy of Sciences, lecturer at The Franklin Institute and editor of its Journal from 1850 to 1866, translated Daguerre's works into English for the Franklin Institute in 1839.

[With:] 3 3/4 x 3 in. oval daguerreotype of a woman seated in a studio, displayed in a velvet mat and housed in a push-button case. Two manuscript notes are enclosed behind the case, each identifying the woman as "Mrs. Edward Pepper (Sarah Hollinshead Cave)," one note adding that she was the daughter of Thomas Cave & Sarah T. Hollinshead. (Daguerreotype with tarnish to edges, occasional spotting; edge wear to case). Ca 1850. Mrs. Edward Pepper, (1819-1878), nee Sarah Hollinshead Cave, sister of Charlotte Jeffers Cave, who was the wife of John Fries Frazer. Sarah's husband Edward Pepper (1817-1892), was a contributing founder of the Free Public Library, and their son Edward, Jr. was a doctor of some renown during the Civil War era. A modern tag from "Samuel T. Freeman & Co." is affixed to the front cover, with identification information. The image was offered as lot 796 in a 15 March 2000 auction. -- Accompanied by a 6 1/2 x 5 1/4 in. daguerreotype of a man resting his arm on a stack of books, under mat and cover glass, but seals broken. The seals include a modern inked notation identifying the subject as Edward Pepper. (Small dimple to the right of the subject's face, otherwise image is very clear, some tarnish to edges). Lacking case, without original seal, but a handsome, striking image. Ca. 1850. Edward Pepper (1817-1892), brother in law of John Fries Frazer. Although unmarked, this image was likely offered as lot 797 in Samuel T. Freeman & Co's. 15 March 2000 auction.

[Also with:] 10 x 8 in. hand-tinted ambrotype of a woman wearing a lovely white dress, holding a fan (occasional loss to emulsion, uncased). -- Quarter plate, hand-colored tintype of a young woman, housed in half case. -- 8 x 6 3/4 in. hand-colored salt print of a woman standing in a studio, matted and housed in a frame with credit to "Mayall, London" on reverse side (image appears very good; some spotting to mat; surface wear to frame).