2009 Record photography by C. Lafiandra. Album.

Photograph Album

Date1860-1880

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; used in Virginia, Norfolk

MediumPhotographic images, cardstock pages

DimensionsClosed: OH: 4 7/8; OW:3 1/2"; OD: 1 1/8"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number2008-155

DescriptionA photograph album missing its covers and spine. The heart of the album consists of double-sided cardstock pages cut with window mats, pages into which two photographs are meant to be inserted, back to back, through an opening along the bottom edge so that each photo is visible through its own window.

p. 1 bears a sprig print on yellow [also see "Inscriptions"]

pp. 2-4 are blank.

p. 5 is the title p. [see "Marks"]

p. 6 is blank.

p. 7 is the uninscribed "Index" [see "Marks"]

pp. 8-9 are blank

p. 10 displays a photo of a half-length painted portrait of a heavy-set man whose window mat is labeled in script in graphite: "Col Nivison".There is a 3-cent U. S. postage stamp on the reverse of the photo. N. B. Other recorded images of this same sitter identify him as Col. John Nivison (1760-1820).

p. 11 is blank but the window mat is labeled in script in graphite: "Mrs Nivison".

p. 12 is blank.

p. 13 displays a photo of a half-length painted portrait of an older woman whose window mat is labeled in script in graphite "Mrs H. Skipwith". There is a 3-cent U. S. postage stamp on the reverse of the photo. N. B. This photo appears to have been migrated from p. 11; recorded oil portraits of the same sitter identify her as Mrs. John Nivison (nee Sarah Stratton)(1760-1830).

p. 14 displays a photo of a half-length painted portrait of a young woman whose window mat is labeled in script in graphite "Mrs Col. Isaac Coles". There is a 3-cent U. S. postage stamp on the reverse of the photo. N. B. Recorded images of this same sitter identify her as Mrs. Isaac A. Coles (nee Louisa Gertrude Nivison)(1795-1824).

p. 15 displays a half-length photo of a white-bonneted older woman whose window mat is labeled in script in graphite "Mrs William Nivison". There is a 3-cent U. S. postage stamp on the reverse of the photo, which also bears the press-printing "BURWELL'S GALLERY/63 MAIN St./NORFOLK, VA."

p. 16 is blank but the window mat is labeled in script in graphite "Gov Tazewell Va".

p. 17 displays a photo of a head-and-shoulders painted portrait of an older man whose window mat is labeled in graphite in script "Wm Tazewell". There is a 3-cent U. S. postage stamp on the reverse of the photo, which also bears the press-printing "BURWELL'S GALLERY/63 MAIN St./NORFOLK, VA". N. B. Other images of this portrait identify the sitter as Littleton Waller Tazewell (1774-1860).

pp. 18-19 are blank.

p. 20 displays a photo of a printed [lithographed?] image of a large structure. The reverse of the image is labeled in upright script in graphite "'Newbold Hall'". The reverse of the image also bears the press-printing "GUTEKUNST/712 ARCH ST/PHOTOGRAPHER/PHILADA".

P. 21 displays a photo of a painted head of a young man. There is a 3-cent U. S. postage stamp on the reverse of the photo, which also bears the press-printing "BURWELL'S GALLERY/63 MAIN St./NORFOLK, VA." N. B. Another recorded image identifies the sitter as William Nivison (1789-1821); see CWF acc. no. 2003-78.

p. 22 displays a round-cutout photo mounted on a card showing a relief carving of an angel and cherub. On the back of it in graphite is "195 [crossed through]" and "803".

p. 23 displays a photo of a half-length painted portrait of a young woman seated on a bench or chair. There is a 3-cent U. S. postage stamp on the reverse of the photo. N. B. Recorded oil portraits of the same sitter identify her as Mrs. Humbertson Skipwith (nee Sarah Stratton Nivison)(1793-1822).

p. 24 is blank.

p. 25 displays a full-length photo of a seated, bearded man; his legs are crossed, and his proper left arm rests on an adjacent, carpet-covered table. There is a 3-cent U. S. postage stamp on the reverse of the photo.

pp. 26-28 are blank.

p. 29 displays a half-length photo of a seated man. There is a 2-cent U. S. postage stamp on the reverse of the photo, which also bears the press-printing "W. J. BAKER'S/Photographic Studio,/12 Tibbitts' Block,/Utica, N. Y./Additional copies of this Picture can be obtained at the above establishment. Handwritten in graphite above the press-printing is "10975".

p. 30 is blank.

p. 31 displays a photo of a printed [lithographed?] image of a large structure. The reverse of the image bears the press-printing "GUTEKUNST/712 ARCH ST/PHOTOGRAPHER/PHILADA". N. B. This is the same image as on p. 20.

pp. 32-35 are blank.

p. 36 bears a sprig print on yellow.
Label TextBy the time the album was acquired, it had lost many of the photographs presumably once inserted in it. Of those remaining, some were taken of people, some of painted portraits of people. Inanimate objects are also represented: the album includes two photos of the same print of a structure called Newbold Hall and a photo of an unidentified relief carving of an angel and cherub.
Five of the six images of painted portraits (or details of heads from same) derive from early nineteenth century likenesses painted in and around Norfolk, Virginia, by Cephas Thompson. The sixth is from a much later portrait (of Littleton Waller Tazewell, once the governor of Virginia) believed to have been done by G. P. A. Healey. Some of the photographs of people are identified by added freehand inscriptions, some are not.
The original, blank album was fabricated in Philadelphia but numerous sitters' identities suggest that it was filled, or compiled, in the Norfolk, Virginia, vicinity.

InscribedOn the first p. in the upper right corner, handwritten in what appears to be ballpoint pen, is: "P. e. e." For other inscriptions, see "Description."
MarkingsPress-printing on the title page reads: "PHOTOGRAPH/ALBUM./PHILADELPHIA: MOSS & CO."
Two pages over, a page titled "INDEX" has been left blank.
For other markings, see "Description."

ProvenanceOwnership prior to CWF's source, H. Marshall Goodman, is undocumented. Goodman acquired the album on EBay from an unidentified seller located in St. Petersburg, Florida.