Lewis W. Hine

the photographer's 'Lewis W. Hine, Interpretive Photography, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York' studio stamp and captioned and dated in ink and numbered '462' in pencil on the reverse, 1908, printed in 1910 (Children at Work, p. 64; Kids at Work, p. 87; Gutman, p. 18) 

This early, warm-toned contact print, on stiff double-weight paper with a semi-glossy surface, is in remarkable condition for its age. It is a luminous print, with substantial foreground detail. The edges are somewhat rubbed, and the corners are rounded, with some tiny attendant emulsion loss at the negative edges and corners. There is a linear impression near the upper right corner with a pinpoint emulsion loss in the surface. On the reverse, in addition to the 'Lewis W. Hine Interpretive Photography, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York' stamp, the caption and date in the photographer's hand in ink, as well as '462' in pencil, other notations in pencil are, in an unidentified hand: '546,' 'R121A,' and 'WR-H-CLT-6.' The reverse is slightly soiled, and there is age-darkening at the periphery. In her volume, Lewis W. Hine: Children at Work, Vicky Goldberg provides the original caption for this image: 'One of the spinners in the Whitnel Cotton Mill. She was 51 inches high. Has been in the mill one year. Sometimes works at night. Runs 4 sides—48₵ a day. When asked how old she was, she hesitated, then said, "I don't remember," then confidentially, "I'm not old enough to work, but do just the same." Out of 50 employees, ten children about her size. Whitnel, N. C., Dec. 22, 1908' (p. 64).
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.

Hine's caption on the reverse reads,

'A bright ten-year-old spinner in cotton-mill, 1910.  The age limit has been raised some.'