(Native American Interest) (Photographs: Albumen) (Photographs: Native American) RARE CIRCA 1880 ALBUMEN PHOTOGRAPH "STEREOGRAPH" ("STEREOVIEW") FEATURING FIVE UTE CHIEFS TITLED IN THE NEGATIVE, "331 THE LATE UTE CHIEF OURAY & STAFF." Central City, Colo.: Chas. Weitfle, circa 1880. Two 3" x 3-3/4" albumen photographs on a 7" x 3-15/16" Weitfle's gray card mount; mount verso with "Weitfle's / Stereoscopic Views of Colorado Scenery / Published and for sale wholesale and retail by Chas. Weitfle, Central City Colo. . . ." The history of this photograph is not as straight forward as one might assume appearing here on a Weitfle mount. Although published here by the photographer Chas. Weitfle, this photograph had previously been published by J. Thurlow of Manitou, Colorado. In particular, Thurlow's published stereoview was labeled "From Hayden's Survey - No. 129. Ute Chiefs - Warency, Chavano, Ancatosh, Ouray, Guerro." How Weitfle obtained the photograph is well documented. "According to the records of his estate, James Thurlow's 250 glass plate negatives were bought by Charles Weitfle." Stereo World Vol. 10, No. 6, p. 6. A Rocky Mountain News article from 1883 "states that Weitfle had paid Mrs. Thurlow $1,250 for the negatives." ibid. Another wrinkle in the story of this photograph is that although Thurlow had titled this image "From Hayden's Survey," Thurlow was not on that survey. The actual photographer on Hayden's survey was William Henry Jackson. How the photograph was acquired by Thurlow appears to lost to history. "However, proper attribution can be made. A negative of the image 'No. 129. Ute Chiefs - Warency, Chavano, Ancatosh, Ouray, Guerro.' is on file at the Smithsonian; the negative jacket is labeled in pencil 'Negative by W. G. Chamberlain, Denver, Col. 1872.'" ibid., p. 10; one caveat to this is that there remains a question as to whether this is actually Chamberlain's photograph, or if it was W. H. Jackson's photograph that is credited to Chamberlain, as the image was taken at a time when the two men were working together, and Jackson was the actual photographer on Hayden's surveys. One final note on this "stereoview": Thurlow's Indian views (Nos. 129-134) are all non-stereoscopic, but rather two exact images placed side by side on a stereoview mount, i.e., this "stereoview" will not form a stereoscopic image when viewed through a stereoscope; photographs with minor toning and spotting; card mount with minor edge wear and spotting. The condition of the "stereoview" is FINE (7/10). RARE.
Note: Graded on a 10 point grading scale used for prints and original works of art. 10/10 - Mint; No damage to the print surface. 9/10 - Excellent; Mild condition issues that are barely perceptible to the naked eye. 8/10 - Very Fine; Mild or moderate condition issues visible under very close inspection or under raking light. 7/10 - Fine; Mild or moderate condition issues that attract the eye under gallery lighting conditions. 6/10 - Very Good; Moderate or mild condition issues that attract the eye under normal viewing conditions. 5/10 - Good; Moderate or severe issues that attract the eye under normal viewing conditions and disrupt the image. 4/10 - Fair; Moderate or severe condition issues that are immediately apparent and significantly detract from the overall look of the work. 3/10 - Poor; Work has severe condition issues and some may be beyond repair. 2/10 - Very Poor; Work has significant severe condition issues and beyond repair. 1/10 - Unsellable; Work is not suitable for resale. # 001132