Wilson A. Bentley 1865-1931

a group of 40 photomicrographs of Snowflakes, printing-out paper prints, 2 groups of 7 arranged on two mounts, with reduction notations in unidentified hands in pencil on the mounts, matted, and the remaining 26 individually matted, 1885-1923 (40)

These printing-out paper prints are in generally excellent condition. There is some wear at the edges and small, soft, handling creases. When examined in raking light, some exhibit slight, age-appropriate silvering. The backs of the prints are age-darkened and, in some cases, have adhesive remains. The large, 21 1/2-by-3-inch panorama of 7 prints is mounted on heavy illustration board, with the images affixed within painted black circles. There are 3 tiny, faint red deposits on the snowflake mounted at the far left. There is soiling on the mount, with penciled reduction notations ('7"' and 'OK Quinn') on the front of the mount. There are 7 pin holes at the upper and lower edges. This mount is hinged to a backboard. The verso is soiled, and there is a strip of adhesive tape remains across the upper edge. The group of 7 snowflakes (8 1/4 by 7 7/8 inches), attached on a black circle painted on a heavy illustration board mount, are in generally good condition. The snowflake at the lower right is missing a portion of the emulsion. 'Feb. Nature' and 'OK Quinn,' and 'strip here' are the annotations on this board in an unidentified hand in pencil. The front and back of the mount is soiled, and the lower right corner is torn. There are six pinholes at the edges and corners.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

It is largely due to Wilson A. ("Snowflake") Bentley's pioneering photomicrographs of snow crystals that the world knows that no two snowflakes are the same.  In January 1885, he was the first to capture a photographic image of a snow crystal. Working with a compound microscope and bellows camera in his family's Jericho, Vermont, woodshed, Bentley caught snow on a black-painted board, examined crystals through a magnifying glass, and if he saw one that he liked, lifted it with a broom splint and placed it on a glass slide for photographing.  Before his death in 1931, Bentley had photographed more than 5,000 snowflakes, half of which are included in his pioneering 1931 volume, Snow Crystals.