David Octavius Hill (1802-1870) & Robert Adamson (1821-1848)

salt print from a calotype negative, mounted, Robert Adamson's monogram and titled in pencil on the mount, framed, the Buhl Collection label on the reverse, 1845 (Stevenson, p. 51)

Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, deaccessioned late 1970s

Collection of Eugene and Barbara Schwartz, New York

Sotheby's New York, 12 May 1986, Sale 5453, Lot 207

Hans P. Kraus, Jr., Inc., New York, 1996

Palm Beach Photographic Centre, In Good Hands: Selected Works from the Buhl Collection, March 2011

Middletown, Delaware, Warner Gallery at St. Andrew's School, In Good Hands: Selected Works from the Buhl Collection, October - November 2011

In 'David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson,' Sara Stevenson lists two similarly-sized calotypes in the collection of the National Galleries of Scotland. This salt print is in essentially very good condition. The strong, deep browns of the print generally remain intense without significant loss of detail. A thin border along the left and right edges of the image has begun to fade uniformly. In the upper left corner of the image, there is a small semi-opaque deposit of liquid that has dried. The thin paper mount is rippled slightly along its left and right edges, and the tip of the upper left corner is torn. The upper and right mount edges are age-appropriately darkened. Three small brown deposits of indeterminate nature are visible on the mount in the upper left quadrant and near the lower right corner of the print. In the upper right mount corner, 'B/2/71' is written in an unidentified hand in pencil. The reverse of the mount exhibits light soiling.
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.