Sixth plate daguerreotype. [Boston: Southworth & Hawes]. Full leather push-button "Boston" case. 

A portrait of a distinguished and well-dressed gentleman by Southworth and Hawes, perhaps the most celebrated American photographic artists of the 19th century. Operating in Boston from 1843-1863, they are considered masters of the art for their visionary use of lighting and angles to create depth and dramatic effect; this plate is no exception. Here, the unidentified subject sits in a chair from the Southworth & Hawes studio, as featured in other known examples. 

Housed in a classic example of a push-button “Boston” case, a hallmark of Southworth and Hawes images. Their images are cornerstones of nearly every major collection of early American photography and are scarce on the private market. 

[Photography, Early Photography, Historic Photography, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Tintypes, Cased Images, Union Cases, Albumen Photographs, CDVs, Carte de Visites, Cartes de Visite, Carte-de-visite, Cartes-de-visite, CDV, Cabinet Cards, Stereoviews, Stereocards]