1855-1858       Rooms in the Museum Building, Troy, New York.

1858-1860       308 River Street, Troy, New York.[1]

1855 August 28.  The Troy Daily Times.  (Troy, New York.)  August 28, 1855, Vol. V, No. 56, P. 3.

Ambrotype Patented.  A New Style Of Picture Far exceeding in beauty and durability anything ever before made.  The exceeding fineness, depth of light and shade, and richness of tone, is wonderful.  They do not Reverse the Subject, but represent everything in its true position.  They are without the glare of a Daguerreotype, and hence may be seen in any view.  They will last for ages, unchanged, and possess the rare quality of Imperishability.

They are pronounced by competent judges to be the grandest achievement in the photographic art, having, a relief and clearness that is truly astonishing.  The Ambrotype must be seen to be appreciated, and are the only pictures on glass which are proof against the action of water, acids, climate, or atmosphere, and may be laid in water for months with perfect safety.  There are no pictures of this kind taken nearer than New York.  The subscribers are the only persons who have the right to use this invention, which will be seen by the following: 

Notice.—This is to certify that Messrs. Clark & Holmes have this day purchased the exclusive right for making Ambrotypes in the County of Rensselaer, State of New York.  Shaw, Clark & Co., Troy, August 8, 1855.

Citizens and Strangers are invited to call and examine specimens in this art; they are assured of polite attention, and if they wish, a superior picture.  Clark & Holmes, Museum Building, Successors to Wm. A. Tomlinson.

Advertisement ran from August 28 to December 21, 1855.

1855 August 29.  The Troy Daily Times.  (Troy, New York.)  August 29, 1855, Vol. V, No. 57, P. 2.

Ambrotype.—The ambrotype is the name applied to a new style of pictures recently patented by Mr. Cutting of Boston, and the patent right of which has been purchased by Messrs. Clark & Holmes, successors to Tomlinson, in the Museum building, for this county. The name ambrotype, we are informed takes its derivation from a Greek word “ambrotus or ambrotos” signifying everlasting, and was given to this style of picture to express the great durability of the picture.  These pictures are made on plate glass coated with Bromo Iodised Collodian and then hermetrically sealed to another piece of glass with balsam of fir, so that the picture must be absolutely unchangeable—a quality professed by no other photographic picture in the world. There can be no doubt that pure metallic silver, protected from moisture and atmospheric air, would retain its lustre for ages.  These pictures are a deposit of pure crystals of silver hermetrically sealed between two plates of glass.  In beauty and truthfulness, the pictures far exceed any other pictures made by photographic art.  The objects are seen in the natural position, not reversed as are the daguerreotypes.—They have none of the metallic glare of pictures made on silver plates, and are seen at any angle.  They never weary the eye, but their soft and mellow tones are always pleasing.  They are made of any size, from the smallest miniature to life size, with the same beauty and clearness.—They are therefor suitable for parlor ornaments, and when placed on a wall, are seen with equal ease, while at the same time they are far more beautiful than the finest steel plate engraving.

We believe that these pictures are destined to make an entire revolution in the photographic art.  This improvement seems a small thing, but when considered as the means of making objects of beauty or at least their perfect likeness imperishable, what is not the art worth?  Fac simile copies of important documents may be preserved to all time.  The true likenesses of all the good and great of the earth may be passed down to the latest times, and by innumerable copies distributed to the whole world.  Had Mr. Cutting’s Ambrotypes existed eighty years ago, we now might have had by our side the true speaking, almost living likenesses of Hancock, Franklin, Adams, Jefferson, and their fellow patriots of that day.  Let us lay aside the utility, and look at the beauty, and we must truly say that we cannot blame Mr. Cutting, even in these prohibitory times, if he looked on his pictures and thought of Ambrosia—the nectar of the Gods.

1855 September 18.  The Troy Daily Times.  (Troy, New York.)  September 18, 1855, Vol. V, No. 74, P. 2.

Rensselaer County Fair.—First Day.—

…Picture Galleries.  Conant’s[2] Picture Gallery was partially arranged, and promises a rich display.  Irving has a niche filled with Daguerreotypes, Phonotypes, Ambrotypes and several other types for aught we know.  A splendid assortment and variety, at any rate.  Clark & Holmes have a splendid gallery of Ambrotypes of great excellence and beauty.

1855 September 22.  The Troy Daily Times.  (Troy, New York.)  September 22, 1855, Vol. V, No. 78, P. 3.

Rensselaer County Agricultural Society—Fourteenth Annual Fair.  The Fair was opened at Lansingburgh…

Premiums Awarded…

Mechanical…Best specimen and variety oil paintings, A. J. Conant, Troy, 8 and diploma…

Best specimens Ambrotypes, Clark & Holmes, Troy, 3 and diploma.

Daguerreotypes, James Irving, Troy, 3 and diploma…

1855 December 22.  The Troy Daily Times.  (Troy, New York.)  December 22, 1855, Vol. V, No. 156, P. 3.

Ambrotypes.  The Ambrotype Is A Picture patented by Mr. Cutting, of Boston.  It was this new style of Picture that obtained the First Premium at the late Fair of the American Institute.  Persons wishing Ambrotypes can have them colored or not at the Museum Building, the only place where Cutting’s Patent Pictures are made in Troy.  It was the Pictures made at this establishment that obtained the First Premium at the late Renesselaer [sic.] County Fair.  All genuine Ambrotypes are stamped Patent, and made only by Clark & Holmes, Museum Building, Troy, N. Y.

Advertisement was recorded eight times between December 22, 1855 to April 12, 1856.

1855 December 24.  The Troy Daily Times.  (Troy, New York.)  December 24, 1855, Vol. V, No. 157, P. 2.

Holiday Gifts and Presents  Christmas is coming…

Daguerrean Artists. 

Those who want a “counterfeit presentment,” either of themselves or friends for a sweet-heart or as a household treasure, can have it taken as natural as life by.

James Irving,…………Market Bank Building

Clark & Holmes………Museum Building

L. E. Everett,…………cor. First and River

John Irving,…………..218 River

C. C. Doty,……………cor. River and Congress

1856 May 1.  Washington County People’s Journal.  (Greenwich, New York.)  May 1, 1856, New Series—Vol. 3, No. 18, Whole No. 708, P. 3.

Ambrotypes.  Now there is something else.  Ambrotypes:  What are they!  It is a question solved by examining a few Specimens Made by those who own The Right For Rensselaer Co. 

It was this New Style of Pictures that obtained The First Premium at the Fair of the American Institute last Fall also at the Rensselaer County Fair.  They are acknowledged by competent judges to be the Plainest and Boldest Pictures in existence.  Much has been said in regard to coloring of Ambrotypes.

They can be colored as Highly as any Portrait.

All who wish this New Style of Picture can have them Colored or Plain, at the Museum Building the only place in Troy where Cutting’s Patent Pictures are made.  Clark & Holmes, Museum Building, Troy, N. Y.                    

Advertisement ran from May 1, 1856 to May 7, 1857.

1857 July 23.  Lansingburgh Democrat.  (Lansingburgh, New York.)  July 23, 1857, Vol. 21, No. 39, P. 2.

A Card.  Those who wish a good Ambrotype, would do well to call at Fitch’s Rooms.  Mr. Finch has made arrangements with Mr. Dewel formerly operator for Clark and Holmes to continue the business during his absence.

1857 December 25.  Essex County Republican.  (Keeseville, New York.)  December 25, 1857, Vol. 4, No. 3, P. 4.

Ambrotype Patented.  Clark & Holmes Daguerreotypists & Ambrotypist.  A New style of picture, far exceeding in beauty and durability anything ever before made.  The Exceeding Fineness, depth of light and shade, and richness of tone, is wonderful.—They do not reverse the subject, but represent everything in its true position.  They are without the glare of a Daguerreotype, and hence may be seen in any view.—They will last for ages, unchanged, and possess the rare quality of imperishability.

They are pronounced by competent judges to be the grandest achievement in the photographic art, Having a relief and clearness that is truly astonishing.  The Ambrotype must be seen to be appreciated and are the only pictures on glass which are proof against the action of water, acids, climate, or atmosphere; and may be laid in water for months with perfect safety.  These are the only pictures of this kind taken in Troy: the subscribers being the only persons in Rensselaer county who have the right to use this invention.

Citizens of Fort Edwards and vicinity are invited to call and examine specimens in this art; they are assured of polite attention, and, if they wish a superior picture. Clark & Holmes.  Museum Building, Troy, N. Y.   n. 20.  

Advertisement was recorded from December 20, 1857 to April 30, 1858.

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[1] Craig’s Daguerreian Registry.

[2] Alban Jasper Conant, (1821-1915) Portrait Painter & Archaeologist.