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Available Now ...
Colorado Mining History in
Images
Colorado In Depth

New highly illustrated book on Colorado mining
history in stereographic images.
Titled : Colorado in Depth
300 + stereoviews printed full size.
Watch this site for more information on where to
purchase soon. Available Now!
8.5" x 11", perfect binding, 80# white interior
paper, full-color interior ink, 100# white exterior paper, full-color exterior
ink.
Winner
of the 2006 "Old West Award"

The course of empire etching from Harpers June
1867.
Web Changes
The most recent additions to my web site. If you've visited before and want
to know what's changed, take a look here first.
This web site was first published 11/20/2005.
Items added for sale or trade or use in exchange for credit in published
works. 2/21/2006 in the Photo Gallery.
Photo Gallery divided into sections 4/20/2006
CURRENT NEWS:
Memorial weekend May 27th -29th 2006 Lancaster's Restoration Rendezvous at
historic Fort Lupton.
http://www.spvhs.org/Lancasters05.htm

March 28th 2006 for sale on eBay California gold rush image starting
bid 250,000.00 dated around 1849. Item number:
6265200642 GOLD RUSH DAGUERREOTYPE PAIR. JACKSONVILLE, CALIFORNIA
$250,000.00
March 4th 2006 Rare Gold Mining image on eBay Item number: 6258097110
Mining Photograph titled "TRIUMPHANT " By "GEO. H. JOHNSON.....SACRAMENTO, CAL."
Color tinted half plate daguerreotype of the California Gold Rush Listed on EBAY
with bids over $22,900.00

Tips on Collecting Historic Photographs

The Colorado gold rush was in 1859 one decade later than
California, but many of the images are just as rare. Early Colorado images
have not appreciated as much as the early California market and are undervalued
at this time and could make great investments in early American history. Only
invest in images you enjoy and that are of the highest quality and condition.
In a recent visit with the director of one of Colorado's premier
western history museums. We discussed collections and the benefits of the
internet and specifically eBay for research and acquiring museum quality
artifacts. It was noted that there is a growing problem with a minority of
fraudulent sellers making misrepresented or un represented reproductions.
Provenances are non existent and if provided of little real value.
From that meeting I decided to share some basic tips and
information on reproductions and fakes in the photographic market of
collectibles. The main focus will be on early Colorado and the west, but the
information can be generalized for other niches. Experience and knowledge
are foremost in importance, The more you know about the subject matter in the
images the more prepared you will be to spot inaccuracies and frauds.
If purchasing images on eBay you need to watch out for fakes and
reproductions, although it has not become as insidious in old photographs as it
has in other areas of collecting. Obvious things to watch out for are copies
passed off as if they were genuine. There is the exception of period copies that
were made near the same time as the original image.

The front view of an early stereo camera, clearly shows the dual
front lens system which enable the camera to capture three dimensional images.
One of the first things to do is date the photograph. This is
done by determining the photographic process utilized. The more common
processes are Albumen process made with egg whites, Ambrotype glass plate,
wet collodion film, and platinum or silver contact prints. There are very few
early Colorado images created by the Daguerreotype process and most are now in
the state historical society's collection.
Most of the important mining images in Colorado were produced
between 1859 to 1920. If an image was created by one of Colorado's well
known photographers the date can be arrived at with even greater accuracy.
Examples are William H. Jackson, Charles Weitfle, Alexander Martin, Collier, and
W.G. Chamberlain. The image is dated within the time frame that the photographer
was active.
The size of the photograph is important, many of the earlier
images were created in small sizes , the most common being the Cartes-de-visite.
(2.25"X4") about the size of a contemporary business card. The cardboard the
photograph is attached to helps to date the image by imprints, and borders, and
later embossing borders. Usually the larger the photograph the later it was
produced. Although there were a few early full plate images created, but rarely
available are on eBay. Occasionally there are recent reprints that have been
reprinted from the original photographer's glass plates.
As mentioned above the mount helps to identify timeframes when
stereographs were also created. The color of the mount, and the corners and even
the curve of the mount also helps to narrow the time frame. For example W.G.
Chamberlain mounted his photographs for a period on green mounts that date from
around 1866-1870. More recent stereographs are usually mounted on gray, or
black card board.
Inscriptions and notes in period writing are very important.
Although these could be easily forged, The text should accurately reflect what
is pictured and be in a method consistent with the period. An example would be
pen and ink in script, or pencil.
Although there are exceptions, these are a few good guidelines
to follow. Knowledge and experience develop as you view more and more images.
I have read of individuals photographing reenacted old events and printing them
in the old process to make unknown fakes of early gun fights. These images need
a thorough visual investigation of the content of the images such as the
clothes, signs, tools, etc. as there will almost always be a incongruity.
Summary of rules for determining authenticity of old
photographs.
1.) Accurately determine the true age of the photograph.
By the photographic process used and photographer. The photographers production
time frame. Period dating by known objects or people in the image, and by
inscriptions on front and back.
2.) Check for variations of the same image by the same
photographer, and similar images by other photographers of the same period and
location.
3.) knowledge gained by studying many images from the same
period, helps to identify unauthentic images. Caveat
emptor


Webmaster Steve & Executive photo archivist /
photo historian

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