Anonymous American Photographer

half-plate daguerreotype, with hand-tinting and gilt-detail, modern seal, cased, 1840s; accompanied by the Lewis family bible, containing 2 cartes-de-visites of Lewis, among other photographs, large 4to, gilt-lettered leather (2)

This impressive half-plate daguerreotype delivers a great deal of detail. The standing figure stands out in pronounced relief from the background, giving the image a three-dimensional appearance. This effect is heightened somewhat by the fact that the subject's white shirt is slightly solarized. The plate is in very good condition. When examined closely in raking light, a series of fine scratches can be seen in the lower portion of the image. These are not severe and are not visible when the piece is viewed straight-on. There is typical minor tarnishing around the periphery of the image, as is visible in the catalogue illustration. There is heavy gilt detailing on either end of the spyglass Lewis holds in his hands. There is rose-tinting on his face. The reverse of the plate is silvered, indicating that it was electroplated. The daguerreotype was recently re-sealed. The modern paper tape seals have been tinted to give the appearance of age. When this daguerreotype was originally found, it lacked a case, and the 19th-century case that now houses it is not original to the piece.
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.

This impressive half-plate daguerreotype, of a mariner holding a spyglass in his hands, shows Charles Henry Lewis.  This identification is made possible through information contained in the family bible that accompanies this daguerreotype, which includes two carte-de-visite portraits of an older Lewis, as well as other information that sets forth a scant but fascinating biography of the man.  Lewis was born in East Town, New York, in 1819.  While the bible contains no direct information about his career as a sailor, the birthplaces of his children give an indication of his whereabouts in the 1840s and suggest that he was sailor on the vast inland nautical thoroughfare of the Great Lakes.  His first and fourth children were born in New Haven, New York, on the Southern shore of Lake Ontario in 1843 and 1849.  The second child was born in Port Colborne, Ontario, on the Northeast shore of Lake Erie in 1845.  The third and fifth children were born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the Western shore of Lake Michigan in 1847 and 1852.  Other sources also place Lewis in the Great Lakes region: the 1860 census lists him as living in Milwaukee; and he was employed as the lighthouse keeper in Port Washington, Wisconsin, from 1874 to 1880.  

The Great Lakes during this period provided a significant highway for trade, allowing goods such as grain, furs, and lumber to be brought from what is now the Midwest to the New York market.  Navigation on the lakes was difficult; their shallow waters were easily roiled by storms, and the danger of shipwreck was ever present.  Ships were constructed to be worthy both on the lakes' vast stretches of open water and in the relatively constricted confines of canals and rivers.  The skills required to navigate this diverse range of waterways were considerable.  Lewis's specific shipboard capacity is unknown—the 1860 census lists his occupation only as 'sailor'—yet this imposing half-plate daguerreotype, made by a photographer of considerable skill, clearly shows a sailing man of some rank and importance.