Tag Archives: Robert H. Vance

Robert H. Vance

Daguerreotypes, , ,

1846                91 Washington Street, Boston, Massachusetts.

1846                Morrill’s Block, Opposite Eagle Hotel, Dover, New Hampshire.

Robert H. Vance (from 1846-1851) in Boston he was in the partnership of Vance & Lerow, In Dover he was by himself, in New York City in 1851 his daguerreotypes were exhibited.    

The first advertisement appeared o February 26,1846 in the Daily American Eagle (Boston, Massachusetts).  Daguerreotype Miniatures.  Pictures taken in any weather, and beautifully colored at extreme low prices.  Copies made from paintings, drawings, bust, and daguerreotypes in a beautiful style.  Pictures taken of deceased persons at one hour notice.

We have on hand a splendid assortment of Lockets, Frames, Cases, Breastpins, Bracelets and Rings, manufactured expressly for Daguerreotype Miniatures.

Students received on very moderate terms and furnished with instruments and stock of the first quality Plates, Cases, Frames, Chemicals, Gilding, and every article used in the business constantly on hand, and furnished to the trade at wholesale prices, and warranted.  The rooms are free to all persons wishing to examine specimens.

Where several persons are taken in one family, a liberal discount will be made.  Vance & Lerow, Daguerreotype Artist, No. 91 Washington street, Next door to Davis, Palmer & Co’s. Jewelry Establishment.

The second advertisement ran from April 30 to May 11, 1846 in The Daily Chronotype (Boston, Massachusetts Vance & Lerow, Daguerreotype Miniatures, No. 91 Washington street.

Pictures taken in any weather, at extreme low prices, and beautifully colored. We have also on hand a large assortment of Lockets, Breast Pins, Bracelets, &c., manufactured expressly for Daguerreotype Miniatures, and which will be taken and inserted in thirty minutes.

Persons wishing pictures of themselves or friends, are invited to call.

Copies taken from Paintings, Drawings, and Daguerreotypes at short notice.  Pictures also taken of deceased persons.

Instruction given in the art, and all kinds of Apparatus, Chemicals and Stock furnished.  The Rooms are free to all.

N. B. perfect satisfaction guaranteed, or no charge.

Rooms 91 Washington St.——Boston, Next door to Davis, Palmer & Co’s. Jewelry Store.

The third advertisement ran from May 15 to June 5, 1846 in The Daily Chronotype

(Boston, Massachusetts).  Vance & Lerow, Daguerreotype Miniatures, No. 91 Washington street.

Pictures taken in any weather, at very low prices, and beautifully colored. We have on hand a large assortment of Lockets, Breast Pins, Bracelets, &c., manufactured expressly for Daguerreotype Miniatures, and which will be taken and inserted in thirty minutes.

Persons wishing pictures of themselves or friends, are invited to call.

Copies taken from Paintings, Drawings, and Daguerreotypes at short notice.  Pictures also taken of deceased persons.

Instruction given in the art, and all kinds of Apparatus, Chemicals and Stock furnished.  The Rooms are free to all.

N. B. perfect satisfaction guaranteed, or no charge.

Rooms 91 Washington St., Boston, Next door to Davis, Palmer & Co.’s. Jewelry Store.

The fourth advertisement was clipped from unknown and undated newspaper with a publication date of May 30.1846.  Colored Miniatures By Daguerreotype.  R. H. Vance, Invites the attention of the citizens of Dover and vicinity to the splendid Miniatures which he is now executing at his Rooms.  In Morrill’s Block—Opposite Eagle Hotel. 

Possessing a thorough knowledge of the Art by a long and continued practice in the country and city, he feels perfect confidence in warranting satisfaction to all.  Pictures taken in any weather and beautifully colored.

I have also on hand a large assortment of Lockets, Breast Pins, Bracelets, &c., manufactured expressly for Daguerreotype Miniatures, and which will be taken and inserted in thirty minutes.

Those wishing pictures of themselves or friends, are invited to call.

Copies taken from Paintings, Drawings, and Daguerreotypes at short notice.  Pictures also taken of deceased persons.

Instruction given in the art, and all kinds of Apparatus, Chemicals and Stock furnished.  The Rooms are fee to all.

Perfect satisfaction guarantied, or no charge. 

Rooms open from 8 A. M. to 9 o’clock P. M. May 30.         

The first announcement appeared on June 2, 1846 in the Dover Enquirer (Dover, New Hampshire).  We would direct the attention of the reader to the advertisement of Mr. R. H. Vance, who will remain in town for a short time, for the purpose of accommodating those who may wish for Daguerreotype Miniatures, executed in the first style of the art.

The fifth advertisement ran from June 2 to September 22, 1846 in the Dover Enquirer.  Colored Miniatures By Daguerreotype.  R. H. Vance, Invites the attention of the citizens of Dover and vicinity to the splendid Miniatures which he is now executing at his Rooms.  In Morrill’s Block—Opposite Eagle Hotel. 

Possessing a thorough knowledge of the Art by a long and continued practice in the country and city, he feels perfect confidence in warranting satisfaction to all.  Pictures taken in any weather and beautifully colored.

I have also on hand a large assortment of Lockets, Breast Pins, Bracelets, &c., manufactured expressly for Daguerreotype Miniatures, and which will be taken and inserted in thirty minutes.

Those wishing pictures of themselves or friends, are invited to call.

Copies taken from Paintings, Drawings, and Daguerreotypes at short notice.  Pictures also taken of deceased persons.

Instruction given in the art, and all kinds of Apparatus, Chemicals and Stock furnished.  The Rooms are fee to all.

Perfect satisfaction guarantied, or no charge.  June 2.

Rooms open from 8 A. M. to 9 P. M.

The second announcement appeared on July 14, 1846 in the Dover Enquirer.  Those who wish for Daguerreotype Miniatures in the first style of the art, will do well to call on Mr. R. H. Vance, at his rooms in Morrill’s Block, Franklin square, without delay.  Mr. Vance will remain in town but a short time longer.

The six advertisement appeared on September 29, 1846 in the Dover Enquirer.  Miniatures.  R. H. Vance, grateful for past favors would respectfully announce to the citizens of Dover and vicinity, that he has made arrangements to close his Rooms by the 3d of next month, and any one wishing a good Daguerreotype Miniature of themselves or friends, will please call before that time, and he will be happy to wait upon them.  Dover, Sept. 29, 1846.

Any person wishing to engage in the Daguerreotype Business, will find this a rare chance for learning and supplying himself with the Materials, as I will sell out my whole stock at the very lowest prices, and give passion the 5th of next month.  R. H. V.

The seventh advertisement appeared on October 12, 1851 in The New York Herald (New York, New York).  Daguerrean Panoramic Views Of California—Now on exhibition at No. 349 Broadway over Whitehurst’s Galleries, the above magnificent collection of pictures taken from nature by R. H. Vance.  Admission 25 cents; season tickets, 50 cents.

Robert H. Vance is published in other photographic directories. The above helps to clarify his time line.  The question is where did Vance go after leaving Dover, New Hampshire?  No advertisements have been found to suggest that he returned to Boston and the partnership of Vance & Lerow.  By June 2, 1846 (publication date May 15) John A. Lerow is advertising as Lerow & Co., 91 Washington Street, Boston.

A. T. Goodell

Daguerreotypes, , , , , , , , , , , ,

ND                  251 Broadway, New York, New York.

1845                Corner Thames & Mary Streets, Newport, Rhode Island.

ND-1849         North William and Chatham Streets, New York, New York.

1853-1854       Corner of J and Third, Streets, Sacramento, California.[1]

A. T. Goodell was recorded in one advertisement in the Herald of the Times (Newport, Rhode) and one article in the St. Louis and Canadian Photographer (St, Louis, Missouri).  The advertisement that ran from May 29 to July 31, 1845.  Daguerreotype Rooms.  A, T. Goodell, Late of Plumbe’s, Broadway , New York, Would respectfully inform the Ladies and Gentlemen of Newport and vicinity, that he has engaged Rooms at the corner of Thames & Mary streets, for the purpose of taking pictures by the Daguerreotype process, where may be had miniatures, single or in groups, which for beauty of color, tone and effect, can be at all ties commend themselves; and if not superior, are equal to any that have been heretofore taken, upon as favorable terms at least.  They are also inserted in breast pins, lockets, &c., at various prices.

Painted or Daguerreotype Likenesses accurately copied.

The ladies and Gentlemen of Newport are respectfully invited to call and examine his specimens, if they intend sitting or not.

Taken in clear or cloudy weather.

Instructions carefully given—terms moderate.

The article appeared in the St. Louis and Canadian Photographer (St. Louis, Missouri) on March 1896, P. 114.  Our First Photographers

In reading of the recent death of the veteran photographer, M. B. Brady, in which it was claimed he was the father of photography in this country, I feel it is only justice to correct some of the statements, so I consulted Dr. A. T. Goodell, who began his career as a photographer in 1843 in this city, and obtained some facts which may interest your numerous readers.

In the year 1840‑41, a short time after Daguerre had invented the process of taking pictures bearing his name‑‑the daguerreotype‑‑John Plumbe, Jr., William H. Butler, S. Draper, James R. Chilton, and Samuel F. B. Morse, the inventor of telegraphy, opened a place at 7 Bowery to experiment in taking pictures by the Daguerre process.  They used only a side light.  It occurred to John Plumbe, Jr., that a skylight would bring about better results, and he leased the upper floors of 251 Broadway, corner of Murray street, where the Postal Telegraph building now stands, and opened Plumbe’s National Gallery, employing twelve operators and Mrs. Thomas, an artist, taking 400‑500 pictures a day at from $3 to $8 each.  At that time M. B. Brady was manufacturing daguerreotype cases at 187 Broadway.

Plumbe’s phenomenal success with the top light led many others to embark in the business, among which were Anthony, Edward & Clark, 247 Broadway, J. Gurney, 189 Broadway, and A. Bogardus, 217 Greenwich street.  J.M. Scoville started in the manufacturing of stock for galleries, and Brady still made cases, but in about 1845 or 1846 he opened a gallery at his factory, 187 Broadway.

Thus it appears that Plumbe was the first photographer in this country.

He opened galleries in all the principal cities in the United States, in London, and Paris, and made a fortune.  Dr. Goodell, who was Plumbe’s head operator, opened his own place at North William and Chatham streets, selling it out to go to California in 1849, around Cape Horn, and when he became stranded, after various ups and downs, his training with Plumbe enabled him to take charge of R. H. Vance’s gallery in Sacramento, the price for one daguerreotype being a half ounce of gold dust, worth about $8.  From the old Daguerre process, so successfully improved and enlarged by Plumbe and his operators, all of whom became prominent, grew the albumen process on glass, the collodion process, then dry plates, and so on.

Plumbe opened two galleries in Washington, one of which was in the Capitol building, and took the pictures of all the prominent men of the day.  [W. M. Chapman, in N. Y. Sun.

A. T. Goodell is recorded in other photographic directories, but the information above helps to clarify his early years.  Goodell is not listed in the New York City Directories between 1839/1840 to 1849/1850.   

[1] Pioneer Photographers Of The Far West A Biographical Dictionary, 1840-1865.

George H. Currier

Daguerreotypes, , , , ,

ND                  Address Unknown, New York, New York.                                                                ND                  Address Unknown, Boston, Massachusetts.                                                                          1854               Address Unknown, Sacramento, California.

George H. Currier was reported in Pioneer Photographers Of The Far West A Biographical Dictionary, 1840-1865.  By Peter E. Palmquist and Thomas R. Kailbourn.  Their original citation was from the Sacramento Daily Union (Sacramento, California) on November 18, 1854.  Robert H. Vance announced the accession of a new “artist,” or, presumably, operator, for his Sacramento gallery: “the subscriber takes pleasure in announcing to the public of Sacramento and vicinity, that he has engaged the services of Mr. Geo. H. Currier, an experienced artist from the first establishments in New York and Boston…”

This is the only mention of George H. Currier in other photographic directories.  He was not listed in the 1840-1854 Boston City Directory.