1850-1857       116 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

P. B. Marvin was recorded in four advertisements and two announcements in several newspapers.  The first advertisement appeared on September 18, 1850 in the Public Ledger  (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).  Notice—P. B. Marvin having this day leased the old established Daguerreotype Rooms, 116 Chestnut Street, (Myron Shew’s late T. B. Shew’s,) respectfully [shouts] of the old friends and patrons, a continuance of their patronage.

The second advertisement also appeared on September 18, 1850 in the Public Ledger. Daguerreotypes—At 116 Chestnut street you can get a perfect Picture, set in a morocco case, for One Dollar.  Please call and examine Specimens.

The first announcement appeared on September 29, 1850 in the Sunday Dispatch (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).  The Committee Of Thirteen who proposed the compromise bill in the Senate, are to be daguerreotyped by P. B. Marvin, 116 Chestnut, next door to Roussel’s.  Marvin takes fine pictures; he has a superior apparatus, is endowed with a natural artistic taste, and cannot fail to present a portrait in a pleasing and fascinating style.  The committee of thirteen will do well to go to Marvin; meanwhile he will take the portraits of all our readers.

The third advertisement ran from October 9, 1850 to January 29, 1851 in The Lancaster Examiner (Lancaster, Pennsylvania).  Daguerreotype Rooms.  P. B. Marvin, successor to T. B. Shew at the Old Establishment.  No. 116 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.  Where he has been for several years the Principal Operator, would invite its old friends and patrons and the public generally to call and see the pictures made by him for One Dollar.  He asserts, without fear of contradiction, that his pictures are equal to any of the high priced pictures made in this city, and superior to any of the cheap ones.

As Mr. Marvin attends to customers in person, he is determined that no one shall go away dissatisfied.

If you want good Daguerreotypes, wait until you come to the city.

Instructions In The Art given on reasonable terms.  Those wishing for instruction are requested to call on the Subscriber, as he is prepared to offer them some extra inducements.  P. M. Marvin.

No. 116 Chestnut st., Philadel’a.

The second announcement appeared on January 13, 1854 in the Philadelphia Inquirer  (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).  City Notice.  We met a droll looking man and woman in the street, those who are ugly enough at times, one would think, to break every looking glass into which they may look.  Yet who ever sees a picture of a downright homely person?  It seems very clear that none but at least tolerably good looking folks sit for their pictures.  Certainly all the daguerreotypes taken, are taken of anything but frights, though at times the operators make very good looking people near neighbors to frights.  We presume there is no city in the Union, which a larger number of unskillful daguerreotypist than Philadelphia; while there is also no city which can boast of better operators with the Camera.  One of these last, is eminently our young friend Marvin, No. 116 Chestnut street, over Adam & Co.’s Express.  If any one of our readers doubts this, let him give Marvin a call, and examine his works.  He takes pictures from one dollar upwards.

The fourth advertisement was recorded from March 22 to June 28, 1854 in the Delaware Herald  (Smyrna, Delaware).  Daguerreotypes:  Chemically Colored.  A New Discovery! P. B. Marvin’s Daguerrean Rooms, 116 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, (over Adams & Co’s. Office.)  A New style of Chemically Colored Pictures, resembling Miniatures on Ivory; combining the brilliancy and accuracy of the Daguerreotype, with the beautiful and life-like effect of color, rendering them the most desirable and beautiful style of Portraits ever made.  Persons visiting the city, whether they want Pictures or not, should not fail to call and see these unique and superior productions; and is any should want pictures, they may rest assured that no pains will be spared to give them the best, and at low rates.

If you want a good Likeness, wait till you come to the city.

Mr. Marvin uses none but the best materials, waits on you in person, and puts up pictures in fine Morocco Cases for One Dollar; Large Family Groups taken at equally low prices.

Instructions given the art on reasonable terms.  Nov. 30, 1853.

P. B. Marvin is recorded in other photographic directories as being active in Philadelphia from 1852 to 1857.  I have only done a cursory search of the Philadelphia Newspapers, in one website there are one hundred and forty newspapers published in Philadelphia, of that number thirty four newspapers fall into the parameters and scope of the project.  In another website, there are only twenty-two Philadelphia papers with three having issues between 1839-1860, of the three two are duplicated in the first site leaving one paper to go through. The third site records thirteen newspapers published in Philadelphia, with none fitting the parameters.