Case43. Sixth-plate octagonal thermoplastic case Game of Chess (Berg 1-122), manufactured by Littlefield, Parsons & Co. VG. $95
Case66. Quarter-plate thermoplastic case (Berg 1-45, Lyre in the Wide Portal (rare)), variant. With ambrotype identified behind image as “Little Freddie Gilman, Taken July 1856 when he was 8 months old.” There is also a poem written in case. Case is by S. Peck & Co., New Haven, Conn. Case is in excellent condition. $450
Case68. Quarter-plate thermoplastic case (Berg 3-17, Geometric), with daguerreotype of man. Case is in excellent condition. $350
Case75. Half-plate thermoplastic wall frame with tintype of a railroad depot. Frame is in excellent condition, tintype is VG. $1200
Case76. Half-plate thermoplastic case (Berg 1-11, American Country Life 2) by Littlefield, Parsons & Co with ambrotype of young woman. VG. $850
Case77. Half-plate thermoplastic case (Berg 1-8, The Holy Family [very rare]) by Holmes, Booth & Hayden with ambrotype of couple. The case and image are in very good condition with sharp corners but there is some minor play in the hinges. VG. $1200
Case78. Sixth-plate thermoplastic case (Berg 1-81, Profile of Learned Man [rare]) by S. Peck and H. Halverson with tintype of man. Case in very good condition with sharp corners. VG. $300
Case79. Quarter-plate thermoplastic case (Berg 3-9, Geometric [rare]) with two identified daguerreotypes. Vintage slips of paper identify the sitters as “John W. Barker, son of Samuel and Mary Ann Barker. Born at Sachem’s Head, Feb. 1828,” and “Mary Sperry Barker, wife of John W. Barker, born in New Haven, Sept. 1829.” On the backs of both slips of paper is written “Property Marguerite P. Chapman.” Images have original seals but I’d advise replacing them so that one can clean or replace the glass. Case in VG condition. $1100
Case85. Sixth-plate thermoplastic case (Berg 1-72, Profile of Washington Facing Right [R]) with tintype of girl. Case has been repaired in the past at the hinges and is chipped around the hinges. Case does not lie flat. Few other chips as well. Fair but rare. $250
Case90. Thermoplastic Case (Berg 1-16, Two Lovers Going to the Well), 5.75″ x 4,” by A.P. Critchlow & Co. This rare case is made to house 2 ninth-plate and 3 sixteenth-plate images. The velvet pad is not present. One corner is nicked, there is a chip at one of the clasps, otherwise case is VG-. $500
Amb126. Quarter-plate Mascher’s Magnifying Case with tinted ambrotype of young woman. VG. $650
Case105. Quarter-plate thermoplastic case (Berg 1-46, Horse Racing (VR)). A few very small nicks, corners are sharp. With two sets of mats, preservers, and glass. Note the lighter browning in the background on one side of the case. Working clasp. VG. $600
Case109. Leather case, measures 4 3/8″ x 3 11/16″ with an image opening of 4″ x 3.25.” Spine and hooks intact and working. G. $75
Case111. Leather case with dimensions 4 7/8″ x 3 7/8″ with an opening for an image of 4 3/8″ x 3 3/8.” This is slightly larger than a quarter plate case which has an image space of 4 1/4″ x 3 1/4.” It will hold a regular quarter plate image if you put some shims in around the image. VG. $150
Amb166. Sixth-plate ruby ambrotype of a man with his two very well-behaved bulls. Housed in a rare thermoplastic case (Berg 3-63, Geometric with Glass Window). VG. $750
Amb171. Tinted framed ambrotype of a woman. Image measures about 4″ x 3.” Entire frame measures 9″ x 8.” Frame is a combination of wood and thermoplastic. With hook ready for hanging. G. $200
Amb172. Tinted framed ambrotype of a woman. Image measures about 4″ x 3.” Entire frame measures 9″ x 8.” Frame is a combination of wood and thermoplastic. There is a crack on the ambrotype. With hook ready for hanging. G-. $100
Amb178. Ninth-plate hidden mother clear glass ambrotype in Union case (Berg 1-162, A Game of Chess) by Littlefield, Parsons & Co. VG. $95
Case115. Hartford Manufacturing Co., Hartford, Conn. Washington Crossing the Delaware full-plate thermoplastic case (Berg 102). There are a few small nicks and chips but overall this case is very good and tight. Hinges are fine, no cracks, etc. VG. $2800
Amb201. Half-plate ambrotype of “H.A. Garrett and Friends 1858. Aug.” When I obtained this the ambrotype and the front of its case were framed side by side long ago for wall display. I took the frame apart and was disappointed to find that only the front of the case was framed and there was no bottom half. I placed the image in a scenic thermoplastic case (Berg 1-11, American County Life 1). The case has a few nicks and chips along sides. The image shows one man writing on scrolled paper; another stands with an open book; and the third man is seated with another book on the table. There is also a bottle of ink on the table. The person I purchased this from told me “it came from Virginia and has something to do with the Railroad.” There certainly is a tale here worthy of research. VG. $1500
Amb248. Pair of sixth-plate ambrotypes identified by vintage slip of paper as “Rachel and Abram Demarest, Mother and Father of Mary Demarest Smith. Married March 29, 1862.” On back of slip is written “Probably taken about 1862.” Abraham Demarest was born in Schraalenburgh, Bergen, N.J. on Sept. 7, 1834 and died in Bergen on April 16, 1916. Thermoplastic case is by Littlefield, Parsons & Co., and is Berg 3-141, Geometric and is in excellent condition. VG. $200
OTT64. Sixth-plate tintype of plumbers. One man stands with a pipe with faucet in one hand, and a hammer in the other leaning on his shoulder. There is another hammer on the table. Other man holds a rolled up paper, probably a blueprint or plan for what they are working on. Housed in a thermoplastic case (Berg 1-113, Lady with Falcon 2). Case is fine, sharp corners, no cracks, clicks shut. VG. (8084) $450
Case120. Sixth-plate thermoplastic case The Daguerreian Gallery (Berg 1-118) with ambrotype of woman. E. $250
Frame4. Full plate thermoplastic wall frame made to hold an image 6.5″ x 8.5.” Patented Aug. 7, 1855. There is one minor, nearly unnoticeable crack line. VG. $650
Case123. Double sixth-plate thermoplastic case (Berg 1-14, Mother Embracing Child 2) with 4 ruby ambrotypes. VG. $325
Case124. Double sixth-plate thermoplastic case by S. Peck & Co. (Berg 2-4, Spray of Stawberries) with two ambrotypes, 1 a ruby, 1 on clear glass. VG. $300
Case125. Quarter-plate thermoplastic case (Berg 1-44, Lyre in Wide Portal) with ambrotype of bearded gentleman. VG. $250
Case126. Sixth-plate thermoplastic case (Berg 1-81, Profile of Learned Man). Ambrotype of gentleman within. E. $275
Case127. Sixth-plate thermoplastic case (Berg 1-104, Calmady Children). Daguerreotype of handsome gentleman within. Image is resealed. VG. $275
Case128. Sixth-plate thermoplastic case (Berg 2-69, Belt and Buckle 1), with mat, glass and preserver. VG. $150
Frame5. Oval thermoplastic frame measuring 6″ x 5.25″ with an image opening of 3.5″ x 2.875.” VG. $75
Lit3000. I read with great interest Sean Nolan’s article in the 2017-2018 Daguerreian Annual titled “A Tale of Two Collectors: The Daguerreotype / Literary Annual Connection.” A while back I acquired this beautiful book titled The Keepsake: A Gift for the Holidays, published by John C. Riker in New York in 1853. I was attracted to it initially thinking it would house a full-plate daguerreotype and was surprised to see that it was a book made for gifting.The beautiful Mother-of-Pearl cover is similar to daguerreotype cases and Sean’s article delineates the connection. This book was Presented to “Carrie by brother Horace, Christmas 1866.” It’s profusely illustrated with fine steel engravings and would have made a wonderful gift. It measures 9.5″ x 7.” VG. $150
Case131-ss42. Double sixth-plate thermoplastic case (Berg 1-14, Mother Embracing Child 2) with 4 sixth-plate images. The image at the lower right is a daguerreotype by Anson, NY and the other 3 images are yellow glass ambrotypes. The case is in fine condition with sharp corners. VG. $250
Case133-ss43. Half-plate thermoplastice case (Berg 1-10, Wedding Procession). There is a paper photo of a woman housed in the case. The case has one nicked corner, a little play at the hinges, otherwise is in very condition and clicks shut. The design of this case is based on Longfellow’s poem “The Courtship of Miles Standish,” and a detailed description of it can be found in Krainik, p. 32. VG. $250
Case134-ss40. Quarter-plate Union case (Berg 1-17S, Washington Monument, Richmond, Va. on one side; Berg 3-16, Geometric on other side). There is an ambrotype of a family housed within. Other than some brown discoloration on the Monument side of the case, it is in fine condition with sharp corners, strong hinges and clicks shut. VG. $250
Case135-ss37. Sixth-plate Union case (Berg 1-65, Bobby Shafto) with two fine ambrotypes of chidlren. Case has some nicks and chips at two corners, crack line by one hinge, play in one hinge. G. $225
Case136-ss39. Quarter-plate Union case (Berg 1-23, General Marion’s Invitation to Dinner). There is a relievo ambrotype of two men and a boy in the case. The man at center is prominently displaying a case with medical or dental tools. The case has two nicked corners, good hinges, clicks shut. $500
Case137-ss22. Sixth-plate Union case (Berg 1-93, Child in Tree, Farm Scene) with ruby ambrotype of woman. Case is in excellent condition, strong hinges, clicks shut. E. $175
D928. Double sixth-plate Union case (Berg 1-14, Mother Embracing Child 2) with two daguerreotypes by Anson, NY. One is tinted. Both images were resealed by Ken Appollo in the early 1990’s. there is one chip on the rim of the case, a few nicks, strong hinges, clicks shut. G. $250
Miltt3. Quarter-plate tintype of two uniformed men with rifles. On the kepi of the man on right is “11 GSB.” This is the German Schuetzen Bund Washington Rifles, either NY or NJ. The image is housed in a rare Union case (Berg 1-46, Horse Racing) in excellent condition. VG. $750