SOLD
250.00USD+ (62.50) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2023 Aug 25 @ 12:33UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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Group of very fine black & white photographs thought to be by prolific, important photographer and inventor Arthur C. Pillsbury (1870-1946).
In this essay, historic photographers of Yosemite will be casually discussed with a more inclusive discussion of Arthur C. Pillsbury.
Nine Yosemite photographs plus two British Columbia panoramic views. None of the Yosemite photographs are signed, but six of the nine photographs have five digit inventory (photograph) numbers. Most of these have a secondary four digit number written in the white border near the 6 digit number within the body of the photograph. None have Pillsburys name. Several are titled, and these strongly resemble some of the hand written titled photographs of Pillsbury where his name appears in the lower portion of the photos. All of these photos are in excellent condition.
The two panoramas contain: ìCopyright 1906 by the Pillsbury Picture Co., S.F. No. (4 digit number). Ach has a title at left, here: Yoho Valley from Lower Lookout point, and ìNatural bridge near Field (British Columbia). About 3.25 x 11.5 each. These two photos are adhered to a board and were poorly set in developer and fix, causing strong contrast problems, probably produced by an employee of Pillsbury, as his level of perfection was far above what is seen here, and I (fh) think these would have been thrown out if done by Pillsbury himself. These latter two do offer, however, a window into who made the Yosemite photos subject of this lot, vis a vie the lettering and later hand numbering system.
Contents of the Yosemite group include: Glacier Point Lodge about 1916, 6.25 x 8.125, #8104; Yosemite Falls , same size, #8080; Twin peaks (?), same size, #8085; drive-thru tree, same size, #10166, almost sepia-toned; lower portion of drive thru tree, possibly #10153 (blurred), almost sepia toned, about 9.75 x 7.75; Half Dome & valley (possibly from Glacier Point), same size, #10081; ìThree Brothers, no number, same size; Merced River and Yosemite Valley, same size, #10092; Half Dome, #10034, same size. Of this group there is an absolute stand-out, exceptional photograph of the highest quality- contrast, focus, context and content, which is the view of Yosemite Falls. It is worthy of any museum, and clearly shows the ability of the photographer to capture great depth of field while not sacrificing contrast and focus.
Provenance: Nevada Historic Photograph Collection, collected c 1920-1935 landing with a Nevada family since inception. This collection, much in this sale, contains exceptional larger format (5 x 7 or greater ñ no snapshots) black and white photographs from around the world taken with high quality cameras with attendant great care to the developing and presentation of the final photographs, and in many cases by some of the most famous photographers. While only some of the photographs are hand signed, others are print signed, and others appear to be trackable, such as Pillsbury, though there are at least four print-signed Pillsbury photographs in this sale from this excellent collection. Yosemite Fine photographs by Arthur C. Pillsbury (?)
Fred N. Holabird
Group of very fine black & white photographs thought to be by prolific, important photographer and inventor Arthur C. Pillsbury (1870-1946).
In this essay, historic photographers of Yosemite will be casually discussed with a more inclusive discussion of Arthur C. Pillsbury.
Nine Yosemite photographs plus two British Columbia panoramic views. None of the Yosemite photographs are signed, but six of the nine photographs have five digit inventory (photograph) numbers. Most of these have a secondary four digit number written in the white border near the 6 digit number within the body of the photograph. None have Pillsbury’s name. Several are titled, and these strongly resemble some of the hand written titled photographs of Pillsbury where his name appears in the lower portion of the photos. All of these photos are in excellent condition.
The two panoramas contain: “Copyright 1906 by the Pillsbury Picture Co., S.F. No. (4 digit number). Ach has a title at left, here: Yoho Valley from Lower Lookout point”, and “Natural bridge near Field” (British Columbia). About 3.25 x 11.5” each. These two photos are adhered to a board and were poorly set in developer and fix, causing strong contrast problems, probably produced by an employee of Pillsbury, as his level of perfection was far above what is seen here, and I (fh) think these would have been thrown out if done by Pillsbury himself. These latter two do offer, however, a window into who made the Yosemite photos subject of this lot, vis a vie the lettering and later hand numbering system.
Contents of the Yosemite group include: Glacier Point Lodge about 1916, 6.25 x 8.125, #8104; Yosemite Falls , same size, #8080; Twin peaks (?), same size, #8085; drive-thru tree, same size, #10166, almost sepia-toned; lower portion of drive thru tree, possibly #10153 (blurred), almost sepia toned, about 9.75 x 7.75”; Half Dome & valley (possibly from Glacier Point), same size, #10081; “Three Brothers”, no number, same size; Merced River and Yosemite Valley, same size, #10092; Half Dome, #10034, same size. Of this group there is an absolute stand-out, exceptional photograph of the highest quality- contrast, focus, context and content, which is the view of Yosemite Falls. It is worthy of any museum, and clearly shows the ability of the photographer to capture great depth of field while not sacrificing contrast and focus.
Provenance: Nevada Historic Photograph Collection, collected c 1920-1935 landing with a Nevada family since inception. This collection, much in this sale, contains exceptional larger format (5 x 7 or greater – no snapshots) black and white photographs from around the world taken with high quality cameras with attendant great care to the developing and presentation of the final photographs, and in many cases by some of the most famous photographers. While only some of the photographs are hand signed, others are print signed, and others appear to be trackable, such as Pillsbury, though there are at least four print-signed Pillsbury photographs in this sale from this excellent collection.
Brief History of Photography at Yosemite
-An Essay – by Fred Holabird. Omissions are a fault of my own. Please consider this an outline.
Much of what follows is extracted from Palmquist & Kailbourne, Pioneer Photographers of the Far West, 2000, Stanford Press. Other info from Stanford Univ, Fiske and Pillsbury biographies, and California Photograph Club Magazine archive as well as Carl Mautz’s Biographies of Western Photographers.
1851. Mariposa “Battalion” to Yosemite Valley to relocate Awaneechees. No photographs.
1854. J.M. Hutchings publishes illustrated California lettersheets, including Mammoth Trees, Calaveras, and on the letter sheet states : “From a Daguerreotype taken by JMH”. None of Hutchings’ dags exist today.
1855. Stereo photos coming into marketplace. Hutchings purchases a daguerreotype wagon in Sacramento. Employs artist Ayers to render sketches of Yosemite, published in first Hutchings California Magazine, with obvious inference that the sketches are from Hutchings Daguerreotypes.
1857. Galen Clark. To Yosemite, possibly with Charles L. Weed.
1859. Galen Clark, upper and lower hotel. Clark was the first appointed Yosemite Guardian, appointed a second time 1889-1896. R.H. Vance sold C.L. Weed Yosemite photographs in SF gallery. Some critiqued Weed’s photos as “falt, lacking depth.” Hutchings commissions Weed to create a Yosemite panorama photo. From 10 x 14” views. David H. Woods(1830-1911) to Yosemite. No photos verified by Pamquist & Kailbourn.
1860. Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902) paints Rocky Mountains, paintings do not sell. Considered first Western landscape paintings. (this ignores the Gold Rush artists).
1860-1872. Hutchings ran the Hutchings House Hotel.
1861. Carleton Watkins to Yosemite Watkins published 30 mammoth plates and took 100 stereo negatives.
1862. Watkins exhibition of his Yosemite photos.
1863. Bierstadt, brother and party to Yosemite Valley in August. Clarence Kind, JD Whitney, JT Garnder Wm Brewer et al to Yosemite as part of a government survey. Watkins was the principal photographer. Written work dated 1868 was actually published in 1869 with original albumen photos.
1864. Lawrence & Houseworth expedition to Yosemite, with C. L. Weed. Alfred A. Hart may have accompanied them. may have accompanied them
1865-6. Two Watkins photographic expeditions to Yosemite
1867. Carleton Watkins displays Yosemite at Paris World’s Fair. Bierstadt displays large canvases of Yosemite (up to 9 x 15 feet). Martin M. Hazeltine to Yosemite, published prints c 1867-1876. A photo expedition to Yosemite was attended by Shew, Vance and Muybridge. E. Muybridge makes his first trip to Yosemite
1868. John Muir’s first trip to Yosemite. Muybridge begins working for Carleton Watkins. John Soule may have used some Hazeltine negatives in his Yosemite prints. Lawrence & Houseworth had a show in SF on Yosemite and Big Trees. Muybridge issues a prospectus of his Yosemite photos: “Scenery of the Yosemite Valley” with 20 6 x 8” photos. Hittell publishes Muybridge’s Yosemite views in “Yosemite; Its Wonders and Its Beauties” of the same 20 photos in carte de visite size.
1869. The publication: “The Yosemite Book” by Josiah D. Whitney (later of the California Geologic Survey), dated 1868. Data from their 1863 expedition, 24 albumen photos by Carleton Watkins, and 4 by W. Harris (not mentioned in Palmquist).
1870. “Yosemite Guidebook, A Description of the Yosemite Valley and Adjacent Region…” (no photos, only woodcuts from photos, possibly those of Watkins).
1871. Houseworth published original photos in “Tourist Guide to the shortest Route to the Yosemite Valley.” Also published: “The Wonders of Yosemite Valley,” by Sam Kneeland, published with 10 original photos by John Soule (not in Palmquist or Mautz).
1872. Bierstadt and Eadweard Muybridge (1830-1904) to Yosemite. Muybridge photos published by Bradley & Rulofson of SF to great acclaim. (Bitter feud between Houseworth and B&R)
1875. Another Muybridge expedition to Yosemite
1876. Clark shoots Wawona.
1878-1881. Watkins expeditions to Yosemite
C1880. George Fiske photographs upper and lower villages. Fiske became John Muir’s favorite photographer by far. Felt Watkins and others were washed out and flat, lacking depth.
1890. Yosemite National Park established by Congress.
1892. Sierra Club formed with the specific purpose to transfer Yosemite Valley and the Grove into Yosemite National Park.
1897. A. C. Pillsbury (1870-1946) to Yosemite, purchases studio. Later published brown sepia-tone photos, possibly the first such. Pillsbury was known for “sensational landscapes of Yosemite.” Invented circuit panorama camera, and many more photographic inventions, becoming the quintessential 20th century photographer at the front end of the 20th century.
1899. Post Card era begins. Early pioneer cards of California feature Yosemite.
1901-1903. Fiske has the principal galley in Yosemite Valley in the “Sierra Club Village.” Many of Fiske’s photos are titled, numbered and signed “Fiske.”
1902. First California Camera Club outing to Yosemite. 25 participants. Begins an annual barrage of photographic camps to Yosemite.
1909. Pillsbury makes first “nature” movie.
1910. Pillsbury invents time-lapse photography, known then as “photo microscopy”
1921. Pillsbury publishes first guide for Yosemite Photographers.
1927-1931. Ansel Adams (1902-1984) works for Curry Co. makes prints of Yosemite from Fiske’s negatives for sale at the gallery.
1929. Pillsbury invents first motion x-ray camera.
1930s. Adams delves deeply into professional photography, continuing a life-long passion with Yosemite.
1943. Fiske’s Yosemite negatives destroyed by Fire.
California
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| NSST |
8.375% |
Nevada Sales Tax |
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California Sales Tax |
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| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
25% |
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