John Plumbe, Jr. (1809-1857), studio of

sixth-plate daguerreotype, with delicate hand-tinting and gilt detail, 'Plumbe' stamped on the brass mat, sealed, cased, 1840s

Collection of Abraham Stransky

Estate of Abraham Stransky

Sotheby's New York, 18 April 1996, Sale 6827, Lot 26

This skillfully-rendered sixth-plate of two young girls exhibits a high level of detail, from the texture of the voluminous fabric of the sitters' dresses to the shiny ringlets of their hair. Flesh-toned tinting enlivens the sitters' cheeks, lips, and arms. Pink and yellow tinting has been delicately applied to the floral wreath, and gilt highlights the girls' bracelets and skirt pins. Remarkable care has been taken in arranging this tableau to evoke a three-dimensional quality. The image itself is quite strong and clean. Upon extremely close examination, 3 tiny rust-colored dots are visible in the upper left and lower right quadrants. An uneven border of tarnish follows the mat's shape and is most thick along the lower and right edges. This does not detract from the plate's exceptionally fine appearance. The leather case features a basket of flowers and an intricate decorative border on its exterior. The case is worn overall, but the spine remains intact.
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.

This Plumbe daguerreotype comes originally from an auction of photographs owned by the late Abraham Stransky (1910-1995), a reclusive New Yorker known to an early generation of collectors and photography buffs in the 1950s and 1960s.  A printer by trade, Stransky haunted thrift shops, antique stalls, and used book stores, amassing a remarkable collection of cased images, stereographs, and card photographs.  A photographer himself, Stransky also left to his heirs hundreds of his own stereo views, miniature furniture carved by his own hand, and reams of his own verse.  Selected with a superb eye, the Stransky collection was completely fresh to the market when it appeared in these rooms in 1995, sparking a revival of interest in 19^th-century photography and the daguerreotype in particular.