American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Stereodaguerreotype. (Tarnishing to perimeters, some spotting). Housed in full leather Mascher case (scuffing to raised areas, discoloration to stereoviewer, verdigris spots to mat). Photographer's "Alex. Beckers / 411 Broadway" stamp to mat. Macher's mark and dated patent mark gilt to stereoviewer. 

Another image taken by Beckers housed in the J. Paul Getty Museum features the same subject captured here (84.XT.1563.16). The Getty image, a dual portrait, identifies the man as "Great Uncle Joe Rogers." 

Beckers, originally from Germany, studied with photographer Frederick David Langenheim in Philadelphia after his introduction to daguerreotypes in 1843. A year later, he relocated to New York and is credited with producing the first whole plate daguerreotype in the city. He worked for several years, first with Langenheim and then with Piard, before focusing his efforts on the manufacture of a revolving stereograph viewer he patented in 1857.