Anonymous

A Pair of Hand-Colored, Platinum Photographs of Yosemite Falls and Three Brothers

S. l. s. n. 1890. Two photographs, n. d. (ca 1890 - 1900); beige card stock - images 9 1/2 x 4, plates 13 1/4 x 7 3/4; small nicks to edges and a few minor spots - mostly to verso; in very good or better condition. Large and stunning platinotypes by an anonymous photographer, they depicted two of Yosemite National Park's most famous landmarks - the majestic Yosemite Falls and the towering Three Brothers rock formation. Platinum prints, renowned for their archival stability and undeniable beauty, were created by placing the negative and the platinum-salt-emulsion-coated paper in direct contact. The sensitizer was absorbed into the paper, not sitting on the surface, which gave the image a matte surface, unlike that of silver gelatin prints, for example. The first patent for the patinotype process was obtained by British inventor William Willis Jr. in 1873. Although cheap at that time, by 1907 platinum would become 52 times more expensive than silver and even more so, with the onset of WWI, all available platinum would be used in the war effort - making platinotypes rarer and more elusive than other types of photographs. Very good .

ZH BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 003393

Catalogue: Photography

Keywords: California, Photography

Blackburn, George F.

Harvesting

(Grand Forks, North Dakota), World's Fair Commissioners, 1893. A set of four large albumen photographs with card stock backing, n. d. (1893); images - vary slightly in size, though approx. 10 x 13 1/2; slight fading, else minor wear; backing - 14 x 17; a bit of wear and spotting to margins; one of the sheets with some loss to upper corner; overall in very good condition. Prepared for the World's Fair Commissioners for the Chicago World's Fair, the photographs highlighted harvest time in North Dakota - with horses, workers, and endless flat fields. The images were created by pioneer photographer and artist George F. Blackburn, whose photographic studio in Grand Forks was said to have rivaled all others in the Northwest. According to historical records, Blackburn owned "the largest camera west of Chicago for life-size photographs, large groups, etc." which would bring people from great distances for the express purpose of having their pictures taken by him. Nearly all the North Dakota views at the World’s Fair would be taken by Blackburn. Very good .

ZH BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 004214

Catalogue: Photography

Keywords: Northwest, Photography, World's Fair