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Lot 181
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Photographer Charles D. Fredricks - Massive collection of letters to him! Fredericks photographed South America in the 1840s & introduced CDVs to the U.S. in 1859
Photographer Charles D. Fredricks - Massive collection of letters to him! Fredericks photographed South America in the 1840s & introduced CDVs to the U.S. in 1859
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Description:

Photography

Photographer Charles D. Fredricks - Massive collection of letters to him! Fredericks photographed South America in the 1840s & introduced CDVs to the U.S. in 1859 


An exceptional unique collection, well over 100 letters with over 250 pages, the papers of photographer Charles D. Fredricks, proprietor of Fredricks Photographic Temple of Art, the largest and most stylish photographic gallery in New York City. From 1844-1853, Fredricks had travelled throughout South America taking photographs.



The Collection



August Claussen. In 1851, Charles D. Fredricks began thinking of opening a studio in Havana, Cuba, and wrote to August Claussen in Havana. On April 7, 1851, Claussen replied to Fredricks, in care of Wall Street bankers Cammann & Whitehouse who would know where to forward his letter. Claussen’s letter concerns the possibility of Fredricks opening a “Daguerreotype establishment” in Havana. In part, “You wish to have my opinion in regard to the prospects this place holds out to be a ‘tip top’ Daguerreotype establishment – conduced by able hands – than those that are now here. As far as I can learn one or two of these establishments here are respectable and one person particularly is said to be a good hand at it – whilst all do something I doubt much their making much money. Should you still be inclined to come here & open a Dag Est I would advise you to procure some letters of introduction to some of the ‘big bugs’ here – this would contribute greatly to make your establ a fashionable one at once – whilst without such recommendations it would take some time before your ‘name could be up’ as we say…”



In 1853, Charles D. Fredricks opened a photography studio in Paris, followed by a studio in New York in 1855, and, in 1857, in Havana.



From 1855-1875, the studio of Charles D. Fredricks (1823-1894) at 585-587 Broadway operated as Fredricks Photographic Temple of Art, the largest and most stylish photographic gallery in New York City. In 1859, Fredricks introduced cartes de visite photographs to the United States and became the American agent of French photographer F.R. Grumel, inventor of the photograph album. Fredricks brought suits against anyone who infringed upon Grumel’s patent. Henry A. Avery was Fredricks’ partner in his New York studio. French photographers George Penabert and Augusto Daries each partnered with Fredricks in his New York, Paris, and Havana studios. Charles D. Fredricks also supplied photographic templates for the illustrations in “Frank Leslie's Illustrated,” the first periodical that made pictures its selling point. When his studio was destroyed by fire in 1875, Fredricks relocated to 770 Broadway.



The first part of the collection are letters, 20 pages in all, from Fredricks’ Paris studio, in Spanish, to Fredricks in Havana, Cuba, in early 1865.



Included is a February 22, 1865, letter from French photographer George Penabert on his Penabert & Co. Paris stationery, also listing his New York and Havana studio addresses. Also on February 22, 1865, French photographer Augusto Daries writes Fredricks, in part, “With Mr. Avery’s knowledge of photography, he reduced the size of the photographs. It was Mr. Avery’s fault that the photographs were so poor and so expensive. He took samples and he did not ask the people from Havana about their work. They wanted to avoid this situation … I have bought a solar camera to make all sizes over aluminum and salt paper in some minutes light. I spent 2000 francs in a magnificent blue room made of iron and double blue crystal used for making tapestries … In Paris, photography sales have gone down. It seems that we are in a photographic crisis…”



On February 27, 1865, Augusto Daries writes, in part, “I am sorry that we were deceived by the photographer and the printer. Above all, we paid so much and we spent a lot for them … As for the sulfate and iron, we have to take them at this time. The sulfate is more expensive but there is no comparison in the quality. I am convinced that the sulfate used in our photographs comes from a poor quality. I have noticed that you ordered platinum chloride from Mr. Penabert that you do not use because the one I brought with me is a lot cheaper. Penabert used platinum chloride and I dislike it … I am making photographic experiments with Mr Davane who is an excellent chemist in photography, especially in the use of photographic toning. I believe I can create something new. I have obtained fine, light boards in every combined size starting from 1/16. I will send you a sample of each size when I am finished. These samples were difficult to create and I had to do many experiments before obtaining them…” Daries also mentions Henry Avery, Fredricks New York partner, and the studios in Havana and New York.



Three days later, on March 2, 1865, Daries informs Fredricks, “In Paris, many photographers are undergoing bankruptcy. All those sffected will leave from Paris to New York on April 5th…” In Penabert’s March 10, 1865, letter, he informs Fredricks that he has sent Avery platinum with which he was to make platinum chloride that would reduce the cost of developing photographs. On March 30, 1865, Penabert wrote, “We are experimenting with photography which I wanted to do a year ago but I needed your consent to proceed…”



In the collection are letters Henry A. Avery, Fredricks’ partner, wrote from New York to Fredricks in his Havana, Cuba, studio, 45 pages in all. Dated November 30, 1864 to May 3, 1865 (all Civil War date except for the last), a few are penned on “Chas. D. Fredricks & Co., No. 587 Broadway, Photographers and Photograph Materials” stationery.



Excerpts:



November 30, 1864: “I have made our Card Photographs of Celebrities at $10 per hundred and sales immediately came up about double Anthony has actually laughed (in his sleeve) at us for the past 6 months but I will have him on an even race from now onward. We are sitting new Celebrities and the business will soon double I am sure … ” With a studio in New York City, Edward Anthony was the country’s largest publishers of images.



December 14, 1864: “We send by Mather the Oil Photographs painted by Kester. There is one to do which will go forward as soon as finished … You order (in the order for 3. 4/4 Cameras) one tube to make 4/4 proof and plate holder to slide so as to make 2 Cards on a plate. Please advise me if I am to send you a Tube in addition to the 3 Cameras … The Minute glasses will be due in a few days and I will send them with next shipment. Kester will not inform me what he puts on his pictures before and after painting them. I have Wurt working on a picture in Oil on albumen Paper which he is doing well and when finished I will be enabled to inform you if any thing is necessary to be put upon the picture. I am sorry to inform you that the Porcelain Picture of the lady we cannot send you. After we had sent you the Negative Kester broke the finished picture in bringing it from his house to the Gallery. You can make another and send it or finish one yourself in Havana … In Photographs we as well as others are doing indifferently well and I am endeavoring to get up an excitement if possible in the Porcelain and Double Card picture. I have given the House Journal an advertisement and have a circular in the hands of the printers which I intend to send all over New York. I think (although business is so bad) that one of these days the Porcelain picture will become a very popular one and if we make them fine … we may get a very fine business with them as we have fine Artists (the best) why should we not press this picture. Wendroth in Philadelphia has a tremendous run upon them and gets $100 for a 4/4. I am getting some Velvet Passpts made and carved Oak frames to put the Passpts in … ” Wendroth and Taylor had a photography studio in Philadelphia. A passepartout is an ornamental mat to be framed.



December 28, 1864: “The Engraving of Rosa Bonheurs ‘Horse Fair’ costs very high $120 gold still I send it as you desire it for Customs House officer … Our sales of Albums in one day and night were $425 at retail and in my opinion had we good weather last week and this so far we should have had $1000 more money in our drawer from sales of Albums at retail … The man for whom the drawing was made of the Tomb of Columbus will not take it and pay $50 for it. in fact he says he wanted a Photograph and if not that he did not order a drawing … I can send you 8x10 Walnut square frames at about $10 per dozen and 10x12 at about $12 per dozen. The kind I refer to are those which have three pieces on the corners held together by a button” Avery’s drawn a small illustration. “I think you can sell them they are carved if you remember … ”



January 17, 1865: “I have now about a dozen specimens of 4/4 Porcelains handsomely mounted all painted in Oil by Kester … Kester is making them very finely. I think I might induce him to go to Havana for about two months at $10 to $15 per day and I am sure in Porcelain pictures he would make a great deal of money for you. We ask for the 4/4 Porcelains $50 in frame. When we perfect the frame I will send you one as sample … ”



February 1, 1865: “I will send you some Passepartouts and frames for Porcelains very soon … The South cannot fight any long fights with heavy bodies of men because they have them not. One by one their ports are closed and one by one all this winter their cities are falling in the hands of the government. Were I where you are I would turn every gold dollar into Exchange at the ruling rates … ”



February 15, 1865: “The Carver Black walnut frames you can put the Velvet Passpt in if you wish. We are having the Passpts made 12x14 outside and selling them either Plain or in the Carved frames at $20 each. They will cost you $11 for both. We have as yet sen nothing as handsome for the Porcelain picture … ”



March 7, 1865: ”The 2 reams we send by Mather also 1 Box Pens and 1½ Oz french Chloride Platina. One pictures by our new bath (12 days old) are very fine and with fine Negatives in fine climate will be perfectly elegant … I send it to you as I brought it from Penabert. 80 grains Bathe, 4 Quarts Water, 2 Oz Acetate Soda, 45 grains Gold, 45 grains Chloride Platina. Wash well before storing and don’t use the bath until it is at least 10 days old … "



March 22, 1865: “I have hurried your order as much as possible and send you to day all but the two India Inks you ask for. Those I will send you as son as I can. I have got Wust to making his I.I. in the same style that Kuhers makes them and we have as much work as he can do. The fact we have of large works as much as all one Artist can do for which I can assure you I am very much pleased to inform you. Cards are decreasing with us but large work is increasing … ”



May 3, 1865: “Enclosed I hand you Invoice and B/L of 1 Cask White Vinegar of Acetic Acid … Do not forget the Daguerrotype in hands of Heerlich belonging to Mr. Kuhers he calls very often for it … ”


There are many Civil War-dated ALsS of Charles’ wife Louise B. Fredricks (1839-1918) to her husband in Havana, Cuba, from their home in Summit, New Jersey, or from Fredricks’ New York studio.



Excerpts:



January 15, 1864: “If you are sending anything on, to send a box of Cigars for ‘a gentleman who will pay well for them’“



February 16, 1864: Mr. Avery’s discharging the girls because they would not work on Sunday. I don’t think he ought to have them work on that day if known it detracts from the establishment– if they have more work than they can do in six days, let him hire more girls. Today there is a piece in the paper (Sun.) speaking about this work-women’s experience- a part of it is no doubt related by one of the girls discharged on Saturday, although no names are mentioned. Mr. A. has rather overshot his mark…” Avery was Fredricks’ partner in his New York studio, managing it in Fredricks’ absence.



March 8, 1864: “The picture which you sent of the baby is real cunning, and you must be able to please the Spanish Mama’s vastly with your instantaneous Camera. The picture of Guenabella is very pretty. I should think she might be something like me, only not nearly so handsome as I am. Is it not so? … We are going to have the largest Fair that has ever been held. It is for the benefit of the ‘Sanitary Commission’ and they are erecting a building expressly for it where the ‘Palace Gardens’ were. ‘Every-body and his brother’ are giving and making for it. they had a Fair in Brooklyn in last week for the same purpose, and realized between 3 & $400,000…” She signed this letter “Louisita.”



November 30, 1864: “I believe Mr. Brady wishes to have that note renewed, and will pay the interest only on the 1st Dec, but hope to be able to pay the entire amount in January…” Robert Wilson in “Mathew Brady: Portraits of a Nation,” writes, “A note about Brady in the R.G. Dun & Company report book, dated August 26, 1864, says ‘Is under heavy expenses & it is difficult to tell what he is really w[orth. Had no general cr[edit & contin[ues to buy.” In 1933, Dun merged with J. M. Bradstreet & Company. After 1864, according to Wilson, there were a number of suits in which judgments were rendered against Brady including non-payment of wages due his employees, non-payment of bills, and failure to pay for photographic supplies.



January 17, 1865: “If I were you I would not have any operations in discounting works expecting to make by the rise in gold, for it is very uncertain. One day it is up & the next down. It is now $2.17 … ”



February 15, 1865: “Mr. Brady has paid nothing on the $2000, but $30 Interest which was Lige’s order. L got the money and gave it to me … ”



March 14, 1865: “I suppose you hear regularly from other sources about the rise & fall of gold  …  It seems to be getting lower all the time …




June 13, 1849. Excerpted from an ALS from Lavinia Fredricks to her brother Charles, at the time in South America. Islip [Long Island, N.Y. : “Mr. Gurneé very foolishly gave up his flourishing business to go to the land of gold, California! You are far behind the age if you have not yet heard, how thousands on thousands of our State’s people are flocking to California for gold, numbers perish on the way from Cholera, some who go by sea have found the vessels in which they sailed unseaworthy, and have been obliged to put in at some port on the coast of S.A …. ”



Also included: 



• One ALS in Portuguese to Fredericks from Brazilian political and military leader General Francisco José de Sousa Soares de Andrea, August 18, 1849.



• Seven ALsS from banker Oliver D. Taylor re lottery tickets, January – April 1865. Fredricks would send Royal Havana Lottery tickets to Taylor who would pay him for the tickets and sell them in New York.



• Four ALsS to Fredricks from banker George H. LeHuray, January – February 1865, re cigars received and transferring gold to Mrs. Fredricks from Oliver D. Taylor.



• ALS from sister Lizzie Fredricks (1849).



• Two ALsS from James M. Fuller to Fredricks, one to him in Rio Grande, S.A. (1849).



• Four Fredricks Signed Checks: three dated 1870 to Cook & Reid, one to Mrs. Elizabeth H. Eddowes.



• Two 1868 Promissory Notes signed “A. L. LeBrun” endorsed on verso by Fredricks.



• Two promissory notes, each 1860, to E.L. Cook, signed by Fredricks’ nephew Elijah L. Cook and by Fredricks on verso.



• One 1882 ALS from a man in Turkey thanking Fredricks for employing his son



• Seven ALsS to Fredricks from nieces and nephews.


There are numerous references throughout this extensive collection to the price of gold, Havana lottery tickets, and cigars.

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