Carleton E. Watkins, attributed to 1829-1916

albumen print, mounted, titled in an unidentified hand in pencil on the mount, matted, possibly 1880s

Presumably, the Gardner Collection of Photographs, Harvard University

To the present owner, 1965-66

Grading this albumen print on a scale of 1 to 10 - a 10 being an albumen print with deep brown dark tones and highlights that retain all of their original detail - this print rates a 12. The print's predominant dark areas are a deep, intense brown/black. The overall tonality of the print is plum/brown. It is unusual to see an albumen print that possesses such intense dark tones; the print shows none of the typical signs of aging, discoloration, or fading that are often seen in 19th-century photographs. The print is in excellent condition. There is a faint and inconsequential 1 ½-inch scuff in the upper left quadrant of the print, but this is only visible upon close examination in raking light. The mount is lightly age darkened, and there is a water stain in the lower left corner.
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.

The unsigned photograph offered here is not reproduced in the Watkins literature, but has been attributed to Watkins on the basis of both provenance and style.  The provenance of this lot, as well as the provenance of the only other known print of the image, would indicate a Watkins authorship.  The present photograph was included in a larger group of  photographs, most by Watkins, that Anthony Morse, III, acquired around 1965-66, a group presumed to have come originally from Harvard University's Gardner Collection of Photographs (see Lot 15 for more information).  Weston Naef has located only one other print of the image extant, in the collections of the University of Vermont, acquired by the University from Mrs. Byron (Lorraine) Dexter.  Lorraine Dexter, a stereograph collector, owned other Watkins photographs of trees, most notably The Museum of Modern Art's famous Watkins 'Arbutus Menziesii, California'--the Strawberry Tree--which was acquired from Dexter in 1965 (reproduced in Looking at Photographs, pp. 20-21).