1856-1857       Wagons on the Corner of 7^th & Broad Streets, Richmond, Virginia.

Mr. Johnson was recorded in seven announcements and six advertisements in The Daily Dispatch (Richmond, Virgini).  The first announcement appeared on March 28, 1856.  Daguerreotype Wagons.—Two of Johnson’s Wagons, No. 7 and 10, are now in Richmond, corner of 7^th and Broad streets, built with best lights.  Johnson himself, with twelve years’ experience, is operating in them.  Brilliant and highly finished likenesses for Fifty Cents and One Dollar—half the usual prices.  Go early to avoid the crowd.

The second announcement appeared on March 31, 1856.  Fathers!  Mothers!  Brothers!  Sisters!  Friends!—Go to Johnson’s Daguerreotype Wagons, corner 7^th and Broad streets, and get one of his fifty cents or dollar likenesses.

The third announcement appeared on April 1, 1856.  If you have seen any of Johnson’s Fifty Cent or Dollar Pictures, you will go to his Daguerreotype Wagons, corner 7^th and Broad sts., and get one or two to give to your friends.

The fourth announcement appeared on April 2, 1856.  A Word to the Wise, &c.—Two of Johnson’s Daguerreotype Wagons are now corner of 7^th and Broad streets.  The superior lights enable him to take good pictures in any kind of weather.  His work is of the best style; he has been many years at it.  Reduced prices, fifty cents and one dollar.

The fifth announcement appeared on April 3, 1856.  Why do you Dress so nicely to get Your Likeness?—Go just as you are to Johnson’s Daguerreotype Wagons, corner 7^th and Broad streets, and get on of his Fifty Cent or Dollar pictures.  He will make your cloths look equal to the best.

The sixth announcement appeared on April 4, 1856.  If you have seen any of Johnson’s Fifty Cent or Dollar Pictures, you will go to his Daguerreotype Wagons, corner 7^th and Broad streets, and get one or two likenesses to give to your friends.  They are in the best style, and larger than you can get elsewhere.  Johnson himself is operating in these wagons.  No. 7 and 10; he has been about 12 years in the business.

The first announcement ran from April 5 to May 29, 1856.  If you have seen any of Johnson’s Fifty Cent or Dollar Pictures, you will go to his Daguerreotype Wagons, corner 7^th and Broad streets, and get one or two likenesses to give to your friends.  They are in the best style, and larger than you can get elsewhere.  Johnson himself is operating in these wagons.  No. 7 and 10; he has been about 12 years in the business.

The seventh announcement appeared on April 8, 1856.  Wanted.—Two Horses and a Driver for a little more than one hour a day, for which one dollar each day will be paid.  Apply to Mr. Johnson’s Daguerreotype Wagons, corner of 7^th and Broad streets.

The second advertisement ran from May 1 to June 4, 1856.  A Book For Nothing!  Instructions Gratis!—Go to the Daguerreotype Wagons, corner of 7^th and Broad streets, and get one or two of Johnson’s 50 cent or dollar pictures for your friends; and he will give you his Treatise on daguerreotyping and Photography, by which you may learn the various processes used in the art.  Remember his prices are low.  He does a large business can sell cheap.  Johnson with his assistants take a very large number of Daguerreotypes daily.  He can, therefore, sell you larger pictures for 50 Cents and One Dollar, than you can get elsewhere; they are in the best style.  He has been many years in the business.  Good pictures taken in any kind of weather, as the lights in the wagons are built for the purpose.  Daguerreotype Wagons, Corner 7^th and Broad streets.

The third advertisement ran from May 12 to 14, 1856.  Five Operators, with extra Apparatus, and another of Johnson’s Daguerreotype Wagons, corner of 7^th and Broad streets, will be engaged during the holidays, so that visitors will not be delayed.  Those desiring good and cheap pictures will do well to embrace this opportunity, as Johnson’s stay in this city is now very limited.  For the quality of the pictures, he refers to the twelve hundred ladies and gentlemen who have patronized him in Richmond.  Price Fifty Cents, One Dollar and upwards.   Daguerreotype Wagons, Corner 7^th and Broad Streets.

The fourth advertisement ran from June 17 to 19, 1856.   A Good Business Chance.—One of Johnson’s Daguerreotype Wagons with apparatus complete, for-sale cheap.  It is now doing a good business.  And one of Johnson’s operators would remain with the purchaser for a time, if required, and could thoroughly instruct him in the art.  For terms, &c. enquire at the Wagon, corner of 7^th and Broad Streets.

The fifth advertisement ran from June 11 to November 6, 1856.  If you have seen any of Johnson’s Fifty Cent or Dollar Pictures, you will go to his Daguerreotype Wagons, corner 7^th and Broad streets, and get one or two likenesses to give to your friends.  They are in the best style, and larger than you can get elsewhere.  Johnson himself is operating in these wagons.  No. 7 and 10; he has been about 12 years in the business.

The sixth Advertisement ran from December 13, 1856 to January 28, 1857.  Many Thousand Likenesses have been taken this year in Johnson’s Daguerreotype Wagon, corner of 7^th and Broad streets.  Go and get one of his 50 cents or dollar pictures, and you will be pleased with it.

Mr. Johnson does not appear in other photographic directories as being active in Richmond, Virginia.  Further research is needed on this daguerreotypist, he claims to have twelve years’ experience (ca. 1844) and has a number of traveling daguerreotype wagons.  So far these are the only announcements/advertisements found, or anyone by name Johnson with a daguerreian wagon(s). There are several Johnson’s who were active in the early 1840’s but to suggest them would be pure speculation.  A listing for C. A. Johnston (will be posted on 9-10-19) appears on July 30 & 31, 1856 were he is asking permission to locate a travelling daguerreotype wagon in Washington, D. C. Its possible they are the same person based on the proximity to Richmond the dates of the announcements and spelling variant of his last name.