Half Plate Daguerreotype | ||
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Posted 13 years ago
antiquesar…
(136 items)
This is an old photo out of my great grandparents' attic (I am assuming it is a relative). It is mounted on the front of an old newspaper and in a gold frame, that goes within the frame. Kind of difficult to describe though. Please help me out with age or any information that you may have.
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It looks like a daguerreotype-- the earliest form of photography. In the US they date from about 1840- 1860.
Be very careful with it out of the frame and cover glass-- any touch to the silvered plate will damage the image. Even the slightest "dusting" will leave minute scratches to the image surface.
Scott
Are there daguerreotypes that are that large? This is approx. 10" tall by approx. 6" wide. I have 2 small, avg. size daguerreotypes, but I did not know that they were made that large.
All of the early "hard images" (daguerreotype, ambrotype, tintype) were sized the same. It sounds like it is a FULL Plate-- should be 6 1/2" X 8 1/2".
The larger the size the more valuable.
Your image has a lot going for it-- large size and interesting subject. I know it is priceless as a family piece, but the image has considerable value to collectors as well. Be careful when handling it.
Scott
Great!! Thanks Scott, you've really helped me out today.
I have filled my family in and they have begged me to ask what "considerable value" means? How much would this go for if sold to a collector? NOTE: This will not be sold!!!
Thanks Again!!
I'd say $1200- $1500 at auction in today's market. Daguerreotypes of this size are unusual and were very costly to have made.
Also, the desirability of a particular subject is speculative on my part. I like her-- off the shoulder dress, gold tinted jewelry, large cross, and head tilt. Others may find her more or less appealing than I do, so my auction estimate may be off!
Also, I should have used the term "Whole plate", NOT "Full".
Congratulations on your family treasure.
Scott
I noticed there are finger prints along the right edge-- is the image currently sealed or is it loose from the frame?
If not sealed, I'd recommend that you have it resealed to prevent further damage.
Scott
It is currently in its original frame and being kept very safe. You've greatly helped me out, Thank you so much!! Wow, I'm shocked. When you said considerable value I had no idea you meant that much.
I've posted two new pictures. The two on the right. These are the daughters of who I believe this is. I truly see a resemblance! The person who I think this is, is Jula Elizabeth (Hayes) White-Doebler (1836-1910). She fits in the range of dates that were given!
The daughter on the far right is Lula White & second from right is Katie (White) Reed.
This was just appraised for $150-$200. The appraiser really like this! He said that it's large and a woman, two desirable aspects.
That is a VERY LOW appraisal!
I deal in antique photographs and it is worth much more than that.
scott
Thanks, Scott! I know you've told me in the past that it's worth much more than that. He seemed to really like it, maybe he was distracted by the fact that he liked it so well.
Sometimes it is just a function of knowledge.
General antiques appraisers USUALLY don't have in depth knowledge on antique photographs (and numerous other specific collecting fields). I find some of my best bargains on antique photos from general antique dealers!
scott
I just noticed where you said it was a Half Plate.
I thought that it was a Whole Plate (6 1/2" X 8 1/2")?
scott
The place where I got it appraised is an antique mall, that brings in a nationally known auctioneer/appraiser who, twice a year, to do free appraisals. Sorry about the confusion, it is in fact a Half Plate. Before when I made the approximation, I was basing that on the frame, not the picture (that was before I was more familiar with daguerreotypes). Also he said that the gold frame did not originally come with the photo (the frame is not photographed above). He told me that when I am looking to identify her to look for someone who was born around 1850 and is of Southern European descent. I don't know how he could tell this from looking at the photo.
Thanks again, Scott!
As a half plate, value would be less but still considerably more than your appraisal. I'd expect to pay $150- $200 for a Sixth plate with HER image.
It is very doubtful that she was born in 1850. The hairstyle, clothing and format all indicate that the image was most likely PHOTOGRAPHED in the 1850s! She would have been born in the 1830s, maybe 1840 at the latest.
scott