Description:

Early California
Fresno, CA, ca. 1880s-1900
1880s Fresno, California! 6 Wonderful Vintage Photographs, Incl. 4 Enormous "Imperials" Depicting Gold Rush Family
Archive
An extremely engaging collection of Western photography, n.d. but ca. 1880s-1900, documenting the lives of the influential Winchell Family of Fresno, California. The archive includes two cabinet cards and four "Imperial" cabinet cards, of which five are albumen prints and one is gelatin silver. The majority of the photographs are either stamped or labeled, and were produced by Fresno-based photographers' studios E.R. Higgins and F.A. Rowell. Expected wear including toning, scattered foxing, with isolated chipped edges or damaged corners. Many of the photos are pen- or pencil-inscribed with captions. Please refer to catalog photos for additional information related to condition, which is overall very good. The smaller cabinet cards measure 4.25" x 6.5" while the largest "Imperial" cabinet card measures 14.125" x 11" including the mat.

The most common caption mentions the name of "Judge Winchell." This referred to Elisha Cotton (E.C.) Winchell (1826-1913), a Massachusetts-born settler who headed West in the wake of the Gold Rush. Winchell moved to the Sacramento, California area in the early 1850s before permanently settling in 1859 in the immediate environs of Fresno, California, a community tucked into the San Joaquin Valley just west of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Winchell, who was a trained lawyer, quickly became one of Fresno's leading citizens: he was elected the first-ever Fresno County Superintendent of Schools in 1860, served as district attorney in the early 1860s, and acted as county judge in the mid-1860s. In 1873, Judge Winchell founded the first law office in Fresno. He was a major area investor and landowner during a time when Fresno, a burgeoning agricultural community, was building up its modern infrastructure: canals, irrigation systems, railroads, and water and electric grids.

Judge Winchell's wife, Laura C. Alsip (1833-1908), established a private school for girls in town. The Winchells had three living children: Lilbourne A. Winchell (1855-1939), a local historian and author of "History of Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley"; Ledyard Frink Winchell (1859-1918), a national guardsman, firefighter, and constable; and Anna Cora Winchell (1870-1945), a San Francisco newspaper journalist and humanities critic. The Winchells's two sons are identified in the photographs below.

The photographer's studio of E.R. Higgins was active in Fresno, California between the mid-1880s and the mid-1890s; no other reference to F.A. Rowell can be found.

The lot includes:

1. An E.R. Higgins cabinet card, sepia-colored albumen photograph on oblong mount, showing a 3/4 portrait of Lilbourne A. Winchell, stamped "E.R. Higgins / Photographer" along the bottom and inscribed "Lil. A. Winchell / Fresno / 1883 / Judge Winchell's son" verso. 4.25" x 6.5."

2. A F.A. Rowell cabinet card, gelatin silver photograph on oblong mount, depicting a family group lounging in a hammock outdoors. The two men in black at center are believed to be Lilbourne and Ledyard Winchell. Labeled "F.A. Rowell, Scenic Artist, Fresno, Cal." verso. Inscribed "Winchell Family" verso. 6.5" x 4.25."

3. An "Imperial" cabinet card, a sepia-colored albumen photograph on oblong mount, showing a clapboarded homestead, probably Lilbourne's, with a hose-watered palm tree in the front yard, and a Black domestic servant holding a dairy cow in the background. Not associated with any photographer's studio. Inscribed "Winchell Family" verso. The photo measures 9.875" x 7.5" while the mat measures 12" x 10."

4. An "Imperial" cabinet card, a sepia-colored albumen photograph on oblong mount, showing a group of well-dressed ladies and gentleman including Ledyard Winchell in the back row at left. Loss to upper left and lower right mat corners. Stamped "E.R. Higgins / Photographer" along the bottom recto, with the additional backstamp "E.R. Higgins / Photographer / Fresno, Cal." verso. Inscribed "Judge Winchell's son" in the bottom margin recto with additional captions verso. The photo measures 10.125" x 8.375" while the mat measures 14" x 11."

5. An "Imperial" cabinet card, a sepia-colored albumen photograph on oblong mount, showing seven dapper toughs wearing overcoats including Ledyard Winchell in the back row at right. Loss to upper left mat corner. Attributed to E.R. Higgins, and indeed, the same backdrop as in the previous group portrait is used! Inscribed "Judge Winchell's son" recto with additional captions verso. The photo measures 10" x 8.25" while the mat measures 14.125" x 11."

6. An "Imperial" cabinet card, a sepia-colored albumen photograph on oblong mount, showing a men's band, its members posing with woodwind, brass, string, and percussion instruments. Ledyard is believed to be the central figure in the front row in front of the bassist. Stamped "E.R. Higgins / Photographer" along the bottom recto, with the additional backstamp "E.R. Higgins / Photographer / Fresno, Cal." verso. Inscribed "Judge Winchell's son" recto with additional captions verso. The photo measures 10.5" x 8.125" while the mat measures 13.875" x 10.875."

We are proud to include items consigned by the Manuscript Society in this auction. These items come from the estate of well-known manuscript dealers Forest G. & Forest H. Sweet and Julia Sweet Newman. Forest G. Sweet was an early leader of the Manuscript Society as well as a rare book scholar. The proceeds from your purchase of these items will benefit the work of the Manuscript Society. You can learn more about them, and become a member of the Manuscript Society, at www.manuscript.org.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

  • Dimensions: largest matted: 14.125" x 11"
  • Medium: Archive

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

March 12, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000