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| D02-178a. SAMUEL GILMAN BROWN . . . Graduated from Dartmouth College and was a professor there 1840-67. He was president of Hamilton College 1867-1881(my daughter Erin's college) and then was a professor at Bowdoin College in Maine. As you look at the stereo pair, which are slightly larger than sixth plate dags, 2 3/4 x 3 1/4 inches, (and over matted to fit in a half plate size case) you will notice the difference in the focal points. The reason for the astounding depth of field when viewed in stereo is that the studio of Southworth & Hawes located at 5 1/2 Tremont St. in Boston used selective focus on each of the plates, realizing that when the images were merged in the eye ports, it would create a spectacular 3-D portrait, with sharpness front to back. I feel that this was still in the experimental phase; although the masters were confident enough to have an important client sit for this unique stereo image at the time, (I believe circa 1852). Each plate was shot separately of course, with a slight change, about 1 1/2 degrees, in the camera's angle, which was the method all later stereo cameras used. S&H also made a slight rise in one of the plates, which added even more astounding three dimensionality. Erin made an inquiry for me and the Hamilton Archivist replied: "Brown was elected president in November of 1866, and inaugurated in July, 1867. We have his letter accepting the presidency, dated Feb. 6, 1867, Hanover (NH)." Now that I have given you readers the nuts and bolts of the absolutely most spectacular and unexcelled stereo daguerreotype that I have ever owned, let me say that my portrait was presented in the exhibition of Southworth & Hawes daguerreotypes. In the subsequent book, Young America the Daguerreotypes of Southworth & Hawes my magnificent example was reproduced along with a companion piece, done in the same style. The stereo pair is kept in a complete black leather push button Boston style case, with a leather insert containing two optics for viewing the dags in stereo (and not attached inside the case). I am fairly certain that this masterpiece in its entire presentation pre-dates the patented Mascher stereo cases by at least one year. Mr. Brown was also displayed in 2003 at Hamilton College. The SCOVILLS MFG. CO. EXTRA hallmark is partially visible in the right daguerreotype that has mat scrapes across the bottom, tarnish at the top and mold spiders as seen in the scan. The left dag has random mold spiders, scratches along the bottom, spotty tarnish and an odd light flare on the tablecloth. When any historical antiquity is offered for sale the tricky part is always for the owner to place a value on the object that will be commensurate with the current market value. However, when attempting to sell the "rarest of the rare" with no guidelines or previous references (and isn't that what I love about dags, you can't pick up a book to determine a price) it is truly difficult. Having written that, I will place a value on SGB. $45,000 |
