Carleton E. Watkins

mammoth-plate albumen print, mounted, with title in an old hand in pencil on the mount, 1861 (Naef 130)

Grading this albumen print on a scale of one to 10 – a 10 being an albumen print that has deep brown dark tones and highlights that retain all of their original detail – this print rates an 8. The highlights are tend toward warm, and the depth of detail in the print is somewhat flat. There is faint discoloration along the upper right edge. Visible in raking light are the following: a few tiny raised areas where particles were trapped between the print and the mount during mounting; and some faint scuffing in the lower left quadrant. Upon extremely close examination, occasional tiny rust-colored areas, possibly foxing, are visible in the sky portion of the image. This photograph is mounted to thick, flexible board, which has a slight wave. There is a thin tideline in the lower left corner of the mount. The mount is edged with brown cloth tape, which has losses but is largely intact. The upper right mount corner is creased. This photograph has recently undergone minimal conservation, primarily surface cleaning. A full treatment report is available upon request from the department.
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.