Anonymous Works

Cabinet Card of a Mystery Contraption

2010-01-05T18:24:00.000-08:00

Available at Greg French Early Photography.

The Proposed Triple Throne in the Imperial Palace for Haile Selassie

2010-01-05T18:18:00.000-08:00

A 1944 U.S. government prepared drawing for the exiled Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie.

(Click Image to Enlarge)

50 L.A. Matchbooks

2010-01-03T08:50:00.000-08:00

From the Collection of Jim Heimann.

View them all here.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T13:55:00.000-08:00

With another year come and gone, I thought this painting would be a nice reminder of how quickly the years pass. Everyone please have a safe and happy new year!

Jay Smith
"The Ages of Woman"
Oil on Canvas
c. 1920- 1930
30 x 26"

Everyone Needs a Coffin Paperweight...

2009-12-30T19:43:00.000-08:00

Available here.

Tintype of a Man's Top Hat

2009-12-28T09:04:00.000-08:00

Sold through J. Cosmas Vintage Photography.

Strange CDV Portrait in a Photographer's Studio

2009-12-28T08:58:00.000-08:00

Here's a strange and unique CDV of a man's legs, hung over the prop molding in the photographer's studio, with a hat on one knee!

Sold through J. Cosmas Vintage Photography.

19th Century CDV of Man and Christmas Tree

2009-12-23T16:37:00.000-08:00

Sold by Greg French Early Photography.

The First Commercially Available Match Book

2009-12-23T12:05:00.000-08:00

Available at Cowan's.

Here's the auction house description:

Lot of 2, includes the match book itself, which is card stock, quite similar to those made today. It is printed card stock with advertising on each face and the paper match sticks themselves. Cover with Wholesale/& Retail/Dealer In/Cigars/Tobacco/Snuff & C/Cor. Front & Locust Sts./Columbia, PA., reverse with John Fendrich/Wholesale/Dealer In/Leaf Tobacco/And Manufacturer/Of/Fine Cigars, top fold has manufacturer's label with front portion missing printed surface, but originally reading Binghamtom Match Co./Binghamton, N.Y.. Interior of each match has printed Smoke The Tilly, and it has an inked inscription reading Given to Grandpa/Purple by John/Fendrich, with seven yellow-tipped matches remaining and 1" x 1.5" striking pad on interior of cover, 1.5" x 2.25" high. Lot also includes a cabinet card portrait of Elisha J. Purple with imprint of C.A. Sweet, Wellsboro, Pa.

The best guess for the 1st commercially printed all-paper match cover was that it was produced by the Binghamton Match Co. in 1893 or 1894 based on Joshua Pusey's invention. Earlier book matches are known from the 1850-80's, but these were substantially different from Pusey's patent. Diamond Match Co. sued Binghamton for patent infringement in 1894 and won.

Condition: As above, minor soil on cover, VG-.

(EST $800-$1000)

The Obsession Cupboard

2009-12-22T14:59:00.000-08:00

Wall cupboard covered with everyday observations spanning three decades, from the late 1930s to the 50s. A typical entry: "May 15, 1948 Caught 10 trout. Very cold. Rain. Poor day."

Available at The J Compton Gallery.

Circa 1860's CDV of an Abstract Pattern

2009-12-22T08:51:00.000-08:00

Available here.

Folk Art Carved Black Doll

2009-12-21T16:50:00.001-08:00

Vintage 1930's and 1940's Political T-shirts

2009-12-21T15:07:00.000-08:00

Available here.

1936 Portrait Painting of the Journalist Drew Pearson By Mildred Shoemaker

2009-12-21T08:41:00.000-08:00

Available here.

Definitely a Beer Town...

2009-12-20T09:04:00.000-08:00

Available here.

Charles Hart Penguin Sculpture

2009-12-20T08:14:00.000-08:00

What looks to be a Charles Hart penguin just sold on eBay for $455.02.

Inspired by Admiral E. Byrd’s Polar Expedition in the 1930s, Hart once sold his penguin carvings on the road between Essex and Gloucestor, MA.

Nice to know that these are still out there in peoples' attics.

Circa 1860 Full Plate Tintype of a Model Ship

2009-12-16T08:44:00.000-08:00

Available here.

Trade Card for A.C. Perry, Practical Carriage, Ornamental, and Sign Painter

2009-12-16T08:34:00.000-08:00

Available here.

The Golden Mother and Child

2009-12-14T16:35:00.000-08:00

Early folk sculpture by Milton Franklin Williams.

Abstract Folk Art Military Man Sculpture

2009-12-12T08:55:00.001-08:00

Early Ceramic Mexican Doll Mold

2009-12-11T13:09:00.000-08:00

1930's Folk Art Carving of a Woman's Head

2009-12-11T12:55:00.001-08:00

Folk Art Painted Indian on a Section of Log

2009-12-11T11:53:00.000-08:00

Archive of a Floating Photographer's Gallery 1869-1880

2009-12-07T19:03:00.000-08:00

An amazing archive of the floating photography gallery of itinerant artists G.W. Gibson and John Matthews of Parnassus, Pennsylvania.

Available at the upcoming Cowan's Winter American History Auction.

Here's the auction house item description:

Little is known of the partnership of Gibson and Matthews; they are unlisted in Ries and Ruby's 1999 Directory of Pennsylvania Photographers 1839-1900). Based upon the identifications of many of the images, however, they apparently operated a floating gallery on the Ohio River and its tributaries. The following locations are noted associated with various images: Oil City, and Parnassus, PA; Paintsville, KY on the Big Sandy River; Guyandotte, W.VA. on the Ohio River; Bear Creek, KY; Nashville, TN; Clearwater, Florida -- including an exterior image of a road gang with two "Nigers."

Virtually all of these images were contained in two separate CDV albums, one of which inscribed on the front inside pastedown: This album was bought in 1869 was taken through all the travels over the Western planes [sic] in a covered wagon G.W. Gibson, but assembled here is a photographic archive of their work. The images are highly personal, and largely documents the family circle of Gibson. Included is a half plate tintype of their floating gallery and houseboat with his wife Mary and two daughters, as well as seven images of Gibson, and three portraits of John Mathews. Many of the images are identified in an unknown hand and indicate that they were taken on board the floating gallery. A treasured clutch are genre scenes of the toys of Gibson's daughters Iana and Istella, including dolls at tea, doll's heads, a tableau of dolls, potted plants, and a photograph album (which is included here). There are also images of stuffed squirrel, and a dead canary (a family pet?).

One exceptional image taken on board the floating studio on the Ohio River in 1876 shows Mathews and Gibson's wife and daughters seated around a breakfast table. There are numerous portraits of the Gibson girls, some with a potted geranium. In one, the two girls stand with their dolls beside a head clamp decorated to serve as a Christmas tree. A fine compendium, and intimate view of the family of an itinerant artist photographer.

Alda Carlson's One Thousand Three Hundred and Fifty Five Four Leaf Clovers Collected From 1910 to the 1920's

2009-12-07T17:41:00.000-08:00

Alda Carlson started collecting four leaf clovers starting in 1910. She kept them all and pressed them in decorative patterns in albums. She must have had a lot of luck. I've never even found one!

Available here.

Update: Sold for $532.52 on eBay