George C. Cox

a group of 31 Portrait photographs, including Clarence King (illustrated), Grover Cleveland, and William Randolph Hearst, platinum and silver prints, 12 mounted, all but one blindstamped, 1880s-90s (31)

Acquired from Robert Cox, 1962

These prints are overall in generally good condition. The mounted portraits exhibit fading at the edges, and some of the mounts are foxed or soiled. The mount of the 'William Dean Howells' portraits are noticeably foxed. The unmounted portraits have some chipping and occasional insect damage generally confined to the edges and/or corners, that does not intrude upon the central image. One of the 'Clarence King' portraits has a 2-inch tear extending from the right edge.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The Identified Portraits are as follows:

Ida M. Tarbell

Clarence King (2 different poses)

Richard Watson Gilder, editor, Century Magazine

W. R. Hearst

S. S. McCleese, editor

Bishop Taylor

H. H. Richardson, architect

William Dean Howells

Grover Cleveland

Joseph Evans, artist (3 different poses)

a Mr. Hazard

In addition, there are: an unidentified portrait of a priest; 7 unmarked portraits of women in various poses, most from the waist up, or bust length; and 9 unmarked portraits of men in various poses, most from the waist up, or bust length (3 of these unmarked male portraits are of the same sitter).

The full catalogue information for this lot is as follows:

a group of 31 Portrait photographs, including Clarence King [pictured in teh catalogue illustration], Ida M. Tarbell, William Randolph Hearst, S. S. McCleese, Richard Watson Gilder, H. H. Richardson, William Dean Howells, Joseph Evans, and many others, platinum and silver prints, 12 mounted, all but one with the photographer's blindstamp on the mount, some, but not all, captioned in unidentified hands in pencil and ink on the reverse of the print or mount, 1880s-90s (31)

George C. Cox of New York, was, in his day, considered one of the finest portrait photographers in America. He opened his studio in 1883, and photographed the wealthy and famous for over a decade, among them the leading artists, politicians, writers and editors, and beauties of the time. One of his most reproduced portraits was that of Walt Whitman, offered in these rooms 22 and 23 October 2002, as a part of Lot 151.