J. Cosmas Vintage Photography, Tintypes Page 4

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TINTYPES / PAGE FOUR

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TT76	1/6 plate tintype of three identified young lumberjacks. There's a piece of paper affixed to the back of this plate that reads; "J. H. Stoelker, Fred Snyder, Emil Archard / Taken at Point Lookout in 1879". This image came out of a Saginaw, Michigan album. There's a Point Lookout in Arenac County, Michigan, about an hour north of Saginaw, on the shore of Saginaw Bay. Though this was the great Michigan logging era, I'd never seen lumberjacks in these hats before! But after further research I found photos in Michigan archives that show river crews and boom workers wearing them. I believe that the photo was taken in an itinerant photographer's wagon. J(ohn) H. Stoelker (1858-1945) went on to become a very respected citizen of Saginaw, co-publishing the newspaper "The Daily Saginawian", and living to the ripe old age of 87. Some wear to the edges, else clean with a nice, unmarked surface. Uncased. A terrific piece of Americana. $150.00 SOLD
TT77	1/6 plate tintype studio portrait of two pretty young girls sitting on a sofa and stool. There's beautiful clarity and detail in this image with various tassles and ruffles and bows. Each girl has a touch of pink tinting to their cheeks. Very minor surface wear, else in fine condtion. Uncased. $18.00
TT78	Superb Native American 1/6 plate tintype studio portrait of a "Chief Shopnigon", posing in elaborate full dress with a pipe in his hands, and a ball club resting against one knee. That's the name written in pencil beneath this image in the album it was in. As the album had Saginaw, Michigan origins, I believe the subject is very possibly of the Chippewa tribe, though I admit I am not expert on this subject, and could find no reference to this name in any internet search. But what a splendid image! There is some loss of focus to the bottom quarter, but that is not a condition issue which is, frankly, as-new. Beautiful clarity and toning with almost no surface marks, and a lovely mat gloss. Uncased. Very rare, both subject and condition. $745.00 SOLD
TT79	1/6 plate tintype portrait of an identified handsome, full-faced young man wearing leather suspenders with his kerchief tucked into his shirt. Etched on the back of the plate is; "Ed Geddes". Though there's something very western about his look, he may well be a lumberjack all scrubbed up for his photo, as the origin of this image is also Saginaw, Michigan. Some scattered surface scratches, else in near fine condition with good toning and contrast. Uncased. $25.00
TT80	Slightly trimmed 1/4 plate full length portrait tintype of an identified young man in a three piece suit (but no tie!) and tophat, posing amidst a "rocky" setting in a photographer's studio. Etched on the back of the plate is; "Jim Pidd / On The Boom". It's hard to say with certainty what "On The Boom" refers to. There are various explanations in the late 19th century from mining to railroading, but as the origin of this image is also Saginaw, Michigan, it can very well be a reference to the logging term. There's a touch of gilt added to his watch chain and the pinkie ring on his left hand. Some minor surface wear, else in near fine condition with good contrast. Uncased. $45.00
TT81	Narrow 1/6 plate tintype portrait of a boy posing in a photographer's studio. And what a cute little boy he is with his sailor's suit, the ringlets in his hair, and his high button shoes. Notice also the photograph album resting on the table top. Very light wear with a nice, clean mat surface. Uncased. $18.00
TT82	Slightly-larger-than 1/6 plate full length tintype portrait of an identified young lumberjack. Written beneath it in pencil in the album it came in, and also etched on the back of the plate is; "William W(albridge) Curry". Saginaw, Michigan records show that he was born in Ontario, but lived his entire life (1853-1932) in that city. Technically this is not an "occupational", as he's not posing with the classic lumberjack tools such as an axe or peavey. However, there's no doubt that his hat, suspenders, shirt, heavy boots and, above all, the red sash of the "voyageur" appropriated by the lumberjacks, mark him as one. As this was the era of the great Michigan logging boom, many young men would spend a season or two in the woods. It looks as if the moulding of the "wall" behind him doesn't meet the carpet. Perhaps this photo was taken by an itinerant photographer traveling from one logging camp to another? And what a terrific photo it is, with his confident pose and the jaunty angle of his hat. Touch of red tinting to the cheeks and sash. There's an obvious bend to the upper right corner, but otherwise in near fine, very clean condition. Uncased. Very special. $125.00
TT83	Gorgeous 1/6 plate tintype portrait of two women posing in a photographer's studio. Very hard to say whether they might be related or not. The lighting in this image is particularly striking as the subjects seem almost to glow, and notice how finely detailed their dresses are. A few light surface scratches, else in fine condition. Uncased. $18.00
TT84	1/9 plate tintype portrait of a couple housed in a blind stamped cream paper sleeve. Though this pose is very common, still I love the formality of the sitters, the incredible clarity of the image, and the way they're so perfectly centered within the oval with it's elegant "frame". Backmark of "J. C. Harmon, Philadelphia". There's one tiny chip in the emulsion just below the women's right eye. Else, this image is like new. $18.00 SOLD
TT85	Pair of oval tintype portraits of the same woman, each housed in a paper sleeve. Though not what one would call a beauty, she seems very confident of her fashion sense and feminine allure. But it's a wonder that she can breathe, so tightly cinched is she at both the waist and neck! One sleeve labeled on recto; "Harmany's Gallery, Lancaster, PA", the other unmarked. Sleeves soiled with bumped corners, else both images clean and sharp. $22.00, the pair.
TT86	I really like this 1/6 plate studio tintype portrait of two young men posing in what might very well be their first "adult" outfits. They're both dressed to the nines with their suits, watch chains and walking sticks, to say nothing of their hats! Note the cast iron fence. Irregularly trimmed with very minor surface wear. Uncased. $18.00
TT87	Here's an extra nice 1/4 plate tintype of a man posing, straw boater in-hand, "by the sea shore". I love the driftwood, the scattered shells and seaweed and, most of all, that terrific painted backdrop with its waves, rowboats and dramatic sky. Note the razor sharp clarity of the white trim on the man's bowtie. Touch of wear to the edges, else in fine, unmarked condition with great contrast and toning. Uncased. $50.00 SOLD
TT88	This 1/9 plate, studio portrait tintype of a lean-faced woman, just makes me think of a character right out of a Dickens novel. I like her clear gaze, her choker tied with a ribbon, and her drop earrings. Even the rather clumsily-applied tinting to her face has charm. Set into an oval blind stamped cream paper sleeve. No backmark. In as-new condition. $18.
TT89	1/9 plate tintype portrait of a woman housed in a blind stamped cream colored paper sleeve. I believe that this could be a mourning portrait, with her all-black attire and the heavy black ribbon descending from her hat. Note the strand of pearls resting on her collar. But what is so remarkable about this tintype is it's gorgeous soft gray luminosity. It's almost as if it's on porcelain. And then there's a brush of pink tinting to her cheeks, lips and the flowers on her hat. No backmark. In fine, clean condition. $18.00
TT90	Narrow 1/6 plate tintype full length portrait of an old man leaning on his cane in a photographer's studio. With his slightly crooked stance, his sunken face and his bony hands, this fellow is the epitome of the description "gnarled". Housed in a blind stamped cream colored paper sleeve. No backmark. In near fine condition. $22.00
TT91	1/9 plate tintype portrait of a young African-American woman housed in a white, blind stamped paper sleeve. No backmark. There is the slightest soiling to sleeve, else image is in as-new condition with superb detail, toning and clarity. Very special. $105.00
TT92	Framed gem tintype of a bearded Civil War Soldier mounted to a CDV-sized card. No backmark. Light soiling to mount, else fine. $25.00
TT93	1/9 plate tintype portrait of a woman housed in a blind stamped cream colored paper sleeve. This is an excellent example of a beautifully done "product". The image itself has this lovely sepia toning and depth to it, with the barest hint of a pink tint to the cheeks, and remarkable detail. And although one might not neccessarily buy a tintype just for it's sleeve, note the quality of this one, with it's gilt ruled edges and the depth and crispness of the elaborate blind stamping. It must surely have been a very satisfying experience to enter a photographer's studio for your portrait, and leave with an end product as lovely as this. Backmark of "A. E. Alden' s, Springfield, MA". In fine condition. $15.00
TT94	Here's a charming, narrow-trimmed 1/6 plate tintype of a father and his very endearing young son. Note how the boy leans against his dad with his feet crossed, the slightly unfurled umbrella held by the father, and the painted "river view" backdrop with the steamer trailing smoke. Touch of surface wear, else near fine condition. Uncased. $22.00
TT95	Terrific narrow-trimmed 1/4 plate tintype of a musician posing with his alto horn. Not used in an orchestral setting, the alto horn was commonly used in marching and brass bands. There's the faintest blush of tinting to the man's cheeks. Very mild surface wear to image. Else, bright and clean with excellent contrast. Uncased. $75.00
TT96	Here is a beautiful pair of matching, narrow-trimmed 1/6 plate tintypes housed in gilt edged cream paper sleeves with purple paper versos. They could very well be mother and daughter, or even sisters. I like the older woman's long ringlets cascading down over her shoulders, and the very serious pose of the girl. Backmark (only to image of older woman) of the "Portland Photograph Gallery, Portland, (ME)". In addition, written faintly in pencil in a period hand to verso of same image is "Nellie Jones, Boston". Verso of younger image unmarked. There's some very slight "bubbling" to the emulsion along the edge of the first image. Otherwise, both images are in fine condition with gorgeous deep contrast and toning. $23.00, the pair. SOLD
TT97	1/6 plate full length portrait tintype of a young man leaning jauntily on a chair. There's a real "Western" feel to this image, although where it was actually taken is impossible to say. Perhaps it's the style hat that he's holding in his hand, and the shirt that he's wearing. In any case, there are some great details. Note the sleeve garters that he's pinned vertically to his sleeves. And the cigar butt held in a deeply tanned hand. Plus the way his hair is parted on his head, and that blanket pinned up behind him. It's very likely that this is the work of an itinerant photographer setting up his studio in a temporary space. Two corners clipped with some very minor surface wear. Else, near fine condition. Uncased. $50.00
TT98	1/6 plate tintype of a young couple posing in front of a painted backdrop. They both look very relaxed, most likely stepping into the studio on a rainy day, as they both have umbrellas. Lower left corner clipped with some very light surface wear. Else, bright and clean with strong contrast. Uncased. $18.00
TT99	Unevenly trimmed 1/4 plate tintype of a very endearing baby girl sitting in a glossy wicker carriage. Note the look she's giving the photographer, and the beautiful blue tint to her little scalloped sweater. I particularly like the way that she's "framed", with all that empty space around her. Some rubbing to surface, especially bottom quarter. Else, near fine. Uncased. $30.00
TT100	Charming 1/6 plate tintype of (no doubt) a brother and sister posing outside next to a tree trunk. They're both holding straw hats in their hands, and wearing virtually the same high button boots. Two corners clipped with some surface wear. Uncased. $18.00