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| D2-159. MIRACLES DO HAPPEN. I was leaving an antique shop in southern Maine in 1992 when a dealer I knew walked towards me with an armful of merchandise he was going to place in his booth. In his right breast pocket I saw one third of a very early leather case. I asked him if there was a sixth plate dag inside? He set down his objects, pulled out the miniature box and opened it while exclaiming; "I just cleaned off some tarnish last night!" I quickly examined the rare plate, asked the price, paid with cash and walked away wanting to shout, "you f . . . ing moron!" Fortunately even HIS heavy hand didn't destroy this masterpiece of inventive daguerreotypy circa 1841. Someone unknown to us stacked the subject's entire collection of books on a table next to the gent's elbow. The feather from a quill pen, most likely had been placed in an unseen inkwell. I'm not certain what that vertical piece of paper represents. The sitter knew that he must remain motionless for many seconds. He clamped down on his jaw and focused his eyes away from the bright light that bathed him unevenly. The right side of his jacket and that large book were in direct sunshine. Was he also holding a letter in his other hand? What does this all mean? I have attempted to read the printed text on the spines and that piece of paper without success. The fellow's archivally taped likeness is uniquely arranged even to my educated eyes when I consider all the other very early daguerreotypes I own or have studied. The surface is fortunately stable even after the damage was done. $3,500 |
