• About
  • Sites That I Like

mirrorwithamemory

~ An Antiques Blog

mirrorwithamemory

Monthly Archives: November 2012

The Curious Case of Mr. Armsbury

23 Friday Nov 2012

Posted by mirrorwithamemory in Photography

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

Adams New York, Antiques, Art History, History, Stiles P. Armsbury, Tintype

Anytime I buy an encased photograph, I’m tempted to take the photo out of the case. I’ll admit, this is not always the best thing to do. If the photo is wedged in too tightly, I won’t risk damaging it. But if I think I can get it out, I usually go for it. You never know what you’ll find behind a photograph. Sometimes it pays off. 

This tintype depicts a stern, distinguished man with a severe case of strabismus. The photograph is not exceptional in quality. It’s a very basic headshot with a blank background. Furthermore, the blue cloudy patches in the emulsion are evidence of solarization, meaning the plate was overexposed. But what makes this photo especially interesting is the information behind it. 

Stiles P. Armsbury, Artist.

Adams, NY. Oct. 22, 1863

A bit of research reveals that Stiles is not the man in the tintype, but the man behind the camera. Stiles P. Armsbury was born in 1825 in Petersburg, New York. He moved to Adams, New York and set up a photography studio, the Excelsior Gallery, in the Dodge Block. The Northern New York Business Directory lists him as a photographer in 1867-68. The date on my tintype shows that he worked as a photographer in Adams even earlier. As of August, 1874, the Jefferson County Journal lists two daguerrean galleries in the village, one belonging to Armsbury, the other to Mr. H.H. Hose. It’s interesting that the photography studios are referred to as daguerrean galleries. By the 1870s, daguerreotypes were long considered passé. Tintypes would have been the most popular medium for encased photographs at that time. I suppose this speaks to how long the studios had been in operation. 

I especially love the fact that Armsbury labeled himself an artist in my photograph case. With so much historical debate as to whether photography is an art or a science, it is valuable to see what photographers of the period considered themselves. Armsbury’s photo finishes also contribute to this idea. One could purchase a photo varnished in “German,” “Italian,” “Grecian,” or “Rembrandt” style. 

Advertisement from the Adams New York Herald, 1877.

Stiles P. Armsbury was quite the character. He claimed to patent “Armsbury’s Improved Background,” which supposedly enabled him to take a picture without taking the background. I’m not entirely sure what this means, let alone if it was possible. Maybe that is why the background in my photo looks so plain. However, I do know that I was unable to find any evidence of Armsbury’s patent application or approved patent. He was involved in a legal suit at one point. Perhaps someone tried to infringe upon his non-existent patent!

Nevertheless, Stiles seemed like a man with big ideas. An 1880 City and Vicinity snippet in the Watertown Daily Times mentioned that he “contemplate[d] writing a book.” He was also the local agent for selling monuments.

Stiles P. Armsbury died on August 25, 1895 after failing health from a paralytic stroke seven months prior. His obituary is the most telling piece of evidence about his character. It states that Armsbury was “possessed of many bright qualities of mind, yet there seemed to be a lack of application or connection which unfitted him to take the position in the world which his talents really merited.” Ouch!

Although there is little credited to Armsbury’s name today, at least his signature remains behind my photograph.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

22 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by mirrorwithamemory in Postcards

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

Eagle, Family, Holiday, Postcards, Thanksgiving, Turkey

Or, Happy Turkey Day! Here are a few postcards from my collection that commemorate Thanksgiving. As you can see, food and family were marketable components of the holiday, even in the early twentieth century. Interestingly, patriotism also seems to have played a big part. This is something we can probably identify with today.

When you scroll through, you might notice that people didn’t always use their holiday postcards during the correct season. They used what they had on hand; a good reminder for us today to be grateful for the things we have.

Hope you enjoy the day!

Ser. 869-1.
“Anna” handwritten in the address portion. Unmailed.

Ser. 5705.
“Friday, March 10, 1911
Dear Mama,
I will drop you a card so you will know how I am. Ear is still aching. I thought once this morning maybe it had broke as I had a most terrible headache this morning, and was trying to vomit[e]. Will go up town and see the Dr. tomorrow. Am weak, only 90 degrees yesterday so you know how one felt. Orlie has gone up town with a pair of pigs, $25 and one male pig $10; ship them into Texas. Hope all are well.
-Flora”
Addressed to Mrs. L.A. Wait of Crofton, NE. Postmarked March 10, 1911.

Printed in Germany. Painting only copyrighted by S. Garre, 1908.
“Oct. 15, ’09
Friend James,
Rec’d your card. Many thanks. Say Jim, it isn’t Thanksgiving yet, but thought I would put you in the mind of such a feast. I didn’t see you at the fair. Heard you were there though. I certainly had a fine time. This is all. Hoping you are well.
I remain your friend,
Eva Hockenbraugh”
Addressed to Mr. James Buser of Fresno, Ohio, R.F.D. #3. Postmarked October 15, 1909.

A Sinking Feeling: Sunday School and Celluloid

14 Wednesday Nov 2012

Posted by mirrorwithamemory in Material Culture, Trinkets

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Antiques, Celluloid, History, Lusitania, Mauretania, Rally Day, School, Ship, Sunday school, Travel, War, World War I

Oh, celluloid, how I love thee. I found these two celluloid pinback buttons at a coin show, of all things. Amidst the sea of coins, there was a display case that contained a few small trinkets; GAR medals and political buttons mostly. I began to walk away from the booth. But suddenly, my heart skipped a beat when I saw the name “Lusitania” peering back at me. I froze in my footsteps, instantly intrigued. Was the pin a period advertisement for the infamous ocean liner? The plot thickened when I found a similar “Mauretania” button further back in the display case.

Lusitania and her sister ship, Mauretania, were commissioned by the Cunard Line in Southampton, England. Both had their maiden voyages in 1907 (September 7 and November 16, respectively).

Like me, many of you have probably learned in school that Lusitania’s sinking was a catalyst for United States involvement in World War I. Having departed from New York City, Lusitania was six days into a trip toward Liverpool when she was torpedoed by a German U-boat on May 7, 1915. The ship sunk in eighteen minutes and three-fifths of the passengers perished. Of the passengers, 128 were American.

An “I told you so” snippet from the New York Times. May 8, 1915.

With so much animosity surrounding Lusitania’s sinking, how do my celluloid buttons fit into the equation?

The pinbacks give us the answer.

These buttons were made by the Griffith & Rowland Press, originally of Philadelphia. The company was a well-known producer of religious reading material in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. While many books published under the Griffith & Rowland name survive, little information can be found about the company itself. 

Entries from auction websites, however, shed some light on the purpose of my buttons. One source notes that celluloid pinback buttons such as these were used in a Sunday school setting to promote higher attendance. To me, this theory sounds like pure bribery of children. I don’t completely buy it.

A listing on the Hake’s Americana and Collectibles website expands upon the issue. Not only did Griffith & Rowland make buttons that look like mine, but the company made some that included the ranks of ship staff. One could acquire a button that said “Captain,” “First Mate,” “Second Mate,” “Steward,” or “Purser.” This implies that some sort of role-playing game might have occurred. Going along with the Sunday school theme, I suspect these celluloid buttons were used during Rally Day.

The purpose of Rally Day was to bring Sunday school students together in celebration at the end of the summer. The event was a final hurrah before work began in the fall and winter. In addition to live music and other festivities, students marched in a procession to deliver their offering envelopes.

From “The Expositor and Current Anecdotes,” Volume 13. October, 1911.

The Beacon Street Diary‘s history of Rally Day mentions a 1911 publication called The Sunday-School of Today. In this book, Rev. Lester Bradner identifies pins as one of several “Rally Day devices.” Bradner stated that such devices were most useful when they offered “a personal touch” and “an effective free advertisement scheme.”  

My Lusitania and Mauretania pins certainly conform to Bradner’s specifications. The ocean liners are clearly depicted for reasons of advertisement (which means Lusitania had not yet sunk when these pins were made). Meanwhile, the ship ranks offer that bit of personal touch to hold one’s interest.

For such small objects, these pins are part of a large history. I have never attended Sunday school, but I’m quite grateful to reap the benefits of Rally Day.

Biographia Dramatica and the Unfinished Thesis

07 Wednesday Nov 2012

Posted by mirrorwithamemory in Architecture, Rare Books

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

Antiques, Architecture, Biographia Dramatica, Books, Cleveland, Dorset, England, John Willett, Merley House, Ralph Willett, Theatre, Travel

Hello, readers! Perhaps I should take a moment to say that I haven’t fallen off the face of the Earth. You see, my abrupt and painfully long (well, at least for me) absence was because I’ve been working on my master’s thesis. I thought that a hiatus from blogging would help me to focus more on my thesis work…but I was wrong. I’m a procrastinator no matter what. So, I figure I’ll stop fooling myself and start writing again about what I love, when time permits. I should mention that just because I took a break from blogging, I certainly haven’t stopped collecting!

Whew. Back in the saddle again. Where to start…

Well, today I smashed my foot. I can’t even explain how, as it was a strange accident. I’m clumsy. These things happen often. And what better way to heal than with retail therapy? (Yeah, I know. Typical girl.) Even so, I realized it would have been silly to buy a pair of shoes with a foot injury. That’s why I decided to pick up two leather-bound volumes from 1782.

These volumes of Biographia Dramatica: or, A Companion to the Playhouse were written by David Erskine Baker, Esq. and printed in London for Messrs. Rivingtons as a continuation of the 1764-82 set. The books claim to contain “Historical and Critical Memoirs, and Original Anecdotes, of British and Irish Dramatic Writers, from the Commencement of our Theatrical Exhibitions; amongst whom are some of the most celebrated Actors,” also “An Alphabetical Account of their Works, the Dates when printed, and occasional Observations on their Merits.” As if that wasn’t enough, these books also present “An Introductory View of the Rise and Progress of the British Stage.”

If you know me, you know that I love to buy books for more than their readable content. Let’s talk about the fabulous spines on these volumes! I absolutely love the classical references: the draped urns festooned with foliate garlands (olive, perhaps?) and the triglyphs and metopes. So good.

I was also intrigued by the signature inside the front cover of each volume. “J.W. Willett, Merly House.” A perfect lead for further investigation.

Merley House. © Copyright Chris Downer and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Merly House, or as it is spelled today, Merley House, is located in Merley, Wimbourne, Dorset, England. The property originally belonged to the Lords of Canford. Ralph Willett, a West India proprietor, bought the estate in 1751 and built the Georgian mansion that currently sits on the property. Willett had a massive collection of books and art. By 1772, his collection had outgrown the house and prompted the construction of two additions. To read more about the history of Merley House, check out the estate’s website.

So who was J.W. Willett?

John Willett Willett (1745-1815) was not the son of Ralph Willett. Rather, Ralph was the first cousin of John’s mother. According to The History of Parliament, Ralph adopted John as an infant. While John had the potential to become a lawyer, he opted instead to pursue antiquarianism. It seems that John gained control of Merley House in 1795. He then auctioned Ralph’s books and paintings and tore down the home’s additions in the early 1800s. Based on this story, one can assume that my books were some of those auctioned.

Then, how did my books end up in the United States?

Beneath the Willett signature inside the front cover is an early twentieth-century label that reads “The Arthur H. Clark Company. Publishers and Booksellers, Importers of Old & Rare Books. Caxton Building, Cleveland, Ohio.”

The Arthur H. Clark Company was founded by Arthur H. Clark, an Englishman who came to the United States to apprentice publishers. After a stint in Chicago, Clark moved to Cleveland in 1892 and managed rare books for the Burrows Brothers. He then established his own company in 1902, which relocated to Glendale, California in 1930 and still exists today.

The Caxton Building, Cleveland. Ohio Architect and Builder, April, 1904.

Thanks for reading, everyone. It feels good to be back!

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 167 other followers

Awards

Pages

  • About
  • Sites That I Like

Categories

  • Archaeology
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Ceramics
  • Family
  • Glass
  • Lighting
  • Limoges
  • Material Culture
  • Militaria
  • Musical Instruments
  • Photography
  • Postcards
  • Prints
  • Rare Books
  • Toys
  • Trinkets
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • December 2012 (3)
  • November 2012 (4)
  • June 2012 (4)
  • May 2012 (7)
  • April 2012 (12)
  • March 2012 (8)
  • February 2012 (6)

Cancel
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy