15. Early Photography

15.21  FAMOUS RIVERBOAT PHOTOGRAPH.  Original, commercially-produced photographic representation of the famed stern wheel river boat  GEORGE C. GREENE.  It depicts a port broadside view of the grand vessel underway belching black coal smoke as it passes the river bank in the background.  Below the main image are the identified portraits of Tom R. Green, Master, and Captain Mary R. Greene.  Signed by their own hand in period ink are the signatures of Tom R. Green, and Mary B. Greene, among others.  The actual image of the steamboat measures 5 ¼ by 9 ¼ inches with the entire presentation being 8 by 9 ½ inches.  Perfect original condition, mounted under shrink wrap on a foam core backing.  The GREEN was converted to oil in 1936.  This image clearly depicts the boat prior to that conversion.  95

The stern paddle wheeler was built by the Howard Ship Yards & Dock Company at Jeffersonville, Indiana, for the Eagle Packet Company and launched in 1923.  She was christened CAPE GIRADEAU on April 24, 1924.  She had a length of 201 feet, a beam of 38 feet.  A true, traditional stern wheel riverboat, she was initially employed in the packet trade carrying passengers and freight between Louisville, Kentucky and St. Louis, Missouri, along with annual trips to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.

In 1935 she was sold to Greene Line for $50,000 and renamed GORDON C. GREENE, in honor of the founder of the company.  She operated as a tourist boat on the Ohio River between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, while still making annual trips to New Orleans.  In 1936 her Captain, Thomas R. Greene added an extra sun deck, increasing the number of passenger cabins and converted her from coal to fuel oil.  As time and the ravages of water borne service made their mark, the boat suffered a series of mechanical breakdowns which lead to her withdrawal from service in 1951.

In 1952 she was sold again, to eventually pass through a succession of owners.  First, under the name SARA LEE, she was converted to a floating hotel at Portsmouth, Ohio.  Soon afterward she was renamed RIVER QUEEN and served as a floating restaurant in Owensboro, Kentucky.   Not long after she was fitted out as a tourist attraction in Bradenton, Florida.  In 1954 her boilers were removed.  In 1960 she was towed to New Orleans to be converted into a night club, but ended up as a restaurant on the Mississippi at Hannibal, Missouri.  In 1964 she was sold for the last time to owners in St. Louis as a bar and restaurant.  There, on the morning of December 3, 1967, RIVER QUEEN met her ignominious demise, sinking at the pier.

This notable steamship appeared in several famous feature length films including, "Steamboat Round the Bend" (1935), "Gone with the Wind" (1939) and "The Kentuckian" (1955).

15.20  RARE  PHOTO GROUPING.   Matched set of 5 original silverplate black and white photographs of the famous 4-masted lumber schooner MARCONI wrecked on the Oregon Coast.  The first shows a close-up of the starboard hull hard aground on the beach.  It is captioned in the photographer’s own hand “FOUR MASTED SCHR. “MARCONI” BOUND FOR CHILI, S.A. WRECKED MAR 23, 1903. NEAR CAPE ARAGO. 243.”   The second is an aerial view of the wrecked vessel awash in the surf entitled “WRECK OF THE “MARCONI.” 237- “   The third, broader view with the beach and the tree line in the background reads, “MARCONI” WRECKED MAR 23.09. 236.”  The fourth shows the ill-fated ship on the beach listing to port with her masts in tatters, the inscription in the photographer’s hand reads, “”MARCONI” ON THE BEACH – 240.”  The fifth images shows the doomed ship as no more than a pile of timbers and wreckage on the beach with Point Arago in the background.   It reads “MARCONI WRECKAGE. -235-“  All images measure 4 5/8 by 6 ½ inches and are in perfect condition.  They are mounted on their original stiff cards measuring 7 by 9 inches.  These are also very good, noting two have slightly dog-eared lower left corners.  An original photo set over 105 years old!   395/all

The famous wreck of the MARCONI is recorded in several well known books on the topic.  Among them, Jim Gibb’s “West Coast Windjammers,” 1968, Superior Publishing Co., Seattle, where the wreck is depicted on 3 different pages.  On page 49 the caption reads, “Battered remnants of the four-masted schooner “Marconi” on the beach below Coos Head after her towline parted on Coos Bay bar March 23, 1909.  The crew was rescued but the lumber laden windship was totaled out."  Then in another Gibbs book, “Disaster Log of Ships,” 1971, Superior Publishing, the wreck is depicted on page 60 with the caption, “The local gentry come to look over the shattered remains of the four-masted schooner MARCONI.  While being towed across Coos Bay bar outbound for Valpariso, March 23, 1909, the towing hawser parted midway over the bar.  The vessel drifted up on the south spit of the notorious Oregon bar and was pounded into submission.  Built by and for the Simpson Lumber Co. at North Bend in 1902, the MARCONI came to grief at the entrance to the port where she was built, just seven years later.” That photo is shown as "PLATE" below.

15.88  SCARCE MID-WEST NAUTICAL PHOTO.  Authentic 19th century albumen photograph of the 3-masted schooner C. C. MILLER in drydock.  The upper left back of the photographed is penned in old ink “C.C. Miller,” then in pencil “Des Moines.”  The clear original image was printed from a glass plate then mounted on its original heavy photo card mount measuring 10 by 12 inches.   The image is 6 by 8 inches sight. Untouched original condition.  19

The Des Moines River, an upper tributary of the Mississippi, is the largest river in Iowa and the namesake of the state’s capitol and largest city which was incorporated as Fort Des Moines 1851, then shortened to Des Moines in 1857.

15.15  PERIOD NAVY PHOTO.  Genuine sepia tone photograph of an old battleship taking a direct hit.   It is titled lower center “SINKING THE U.S.S. EX-IOWA BY 14 IN. GUN FIRE.”  It is signed and numbered “22 – March - 23© by A.E. WELLS 4774” lower left.  The image is clear and bright, but there is some water spotting which actually may have been on the negative.  8 by 10 inches with a ½ inch border.  19

The venerable battleship IOWA, first to be named in honor of that state, was laid down by William Cramp & Sons of Philadelphia on August 5, 1893.  She was launched on March 28. 1896 and commissioned on June 16, 1897.  Armed with four twelve inch guns, the ship was state-of-the-art for its time.  Less than a year later her capabilities were put to the test when, at the battle of Santiago de Cuba in the Spanish American War, she was a major combatant against the Spanish Fleet.  The ensuing battle decimated the Spanish Navy and propelled the United States into world dominance at the beginning of the 20th century.

In retrospect it is sad that the once proud old war veteran was relegated to nothing more than a target ship at the end of her days.  But such was the prevailing sentiment of the time.

15.12  ROYAL YACHT PHOTOGRAPH.  Authentic, identified real-time photo of Kaiser Wilhelm II’s Royal Yacht SMY HOHENZOLLERN II at her berth in New York City in 1902.  This striking albumen photograph in rich sepia tones depicts the splendid yacht from a starboard bow perspective alongside a pier.  The image is clear and precise eliciting many details when viewed under magnification.  To the left of the vessel in the photograph can be seen the snow covered banks of the Hudson River with a 3-masted schooner at anchor.  A sole crewman can also be seen on the flying bridge.  This photograph was taken on February 25, 1902 when HOHENZOLLERN with Prince Heinrich embarked, visited President Theodore Roosevelt.  Interestingly, just above the forecastle of the HOHENSOLLERN can be seen 3 massive funnels of a liner berthed on the opposite side of the pier.  This original old image is well preserved, mounted on non-acidic foam core under shrink wrap and measures 7 ¼ by 9 ½ inches sight.  Perfect original condition.  An important original photograph with a number of significant ties to yachting, Royalty and the U.S. Presidency.  Over 100 years old!  149
 
 The extravagantly luxurious Royal Yacht SMY HOHENZOLLERN II was built by AG Vulcan, Stetin, Germany and launched in 1893.  She had a length overall of 390 feet, a beam of 46 feet and draft of 18 feet.  HOHENZOLLERN II was the German Imperial Yacht from 1893 to July 1914 during the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm II. 

On February 25, 1902 the yacht, embarked with Prince Heinrich, made a State visit to then President Theodore Roosevelt in New York City.  This photograph, taken that very day, documents the historic event.

Upon the outbreak of World War I, HOHENZOLLERN II was put out of service.  With the demise of the German throne she was struck from the record in 1920 and scrapped in Wilhelmshaven in 1923.

15.10  HUDSON RIVER PHOTOGRAPH.  Latter half 1800's albumen photograph of the grand passenger stern wheeler NEW YORK steaming down the Hudson on a bright, sunny day absolutely crammed with passengers on all 3 decks.  The huge river steamer plies the placid river, her reflection clearly showing in the water in the foreground.  The ship flies the Union Jack from the jack staff and at least 4 other flags aft, including the American ensign.  This early river boat has the unusual feature of 3 large smoke stacks positioned abreast of one another and forward of its old fashioned rocking beam engine.  Two masts are in evidence, one just forward of the pilot house and the other aft.  All the way astern can be seen the massive paddle box clearly marked “NEW YORK” on its side.  The white hulled vessel appears to be beautifully maintained as the well dressed passengers regale its every inch of space.  The thickly wooded banks of the Hudson River are clearly visible on both sides of the photograph.  It measures 4 ½ by 6 3/8 inches sight and is mounted on its original stiff photograph card measuring 8 by 10 ¼ inches.  The image is in excellent original condition and bears close scrutiny under magnification revealing many interesting details.  The original card is complete and sound, but does have a water stain in the upper right quadrant.  This could be easily matted out when the photograph is framed.  Currently preserved under shrink wrap mounted on foam core.  149

The famous stern wheel river steamer NEW YORK was built in Brooklyn in 1863.  She had a length of 192 feet, a breadth of 34 feet and a draft of 13 feet. She was homeported in New York City. 

15.09   IDENTIFIED PHOTO.   Extra nice authentic 19th century cabinet card photograph of a racing cutter under full sail at sea.  This antique albumen photograph clearly depicts the classic yacht with long bowsprit, two head sails, gaff and billowing mainsail on a port tack.  It flies a yacht pennant from the mast.  Two crewmen can clearly be seen in their respective positions on deck.  In the background lies a long narrow sandy shore with 3 ramps leading to the water with two large vessels shown.  This handsome old photograph is blind signed (impressed) “West & Son Copyright, Southsea & Gosport ” lower right.  Then on the back, upper left the vessel is identified in pencil as the “Currytush.”The image measures 5 ¾ by 8 ½ inches sight and is mounted on its original heavy photographic card measuring 6 ½ by 8 ½ inches.  A fine original example of professional quality marine photograph in near perfect original condition.  195

Alfred John West (1857–1937) was an award-winning British marine photographer, who began working in 1880 in his father’s photographic business “George West and Son” at 97 High Street, Gosport, Hants and 72 and 84 Palmerston Road, Southsea.  He became a world renown marine photographer, winning many national and international medals for his studies of yachts under sail.  His portrait of MOHAWK racing in the Royal Southampton Yacht Club Regatta in 1884 gained him the gold medal at the St. Louis Convention USA in competition with photographers from 9 other countries.   In 1897, at age 40, he embarked on a career as a cinematographer.  He was active in both of these pioneering roles until 1913 when he sold his copyrighted negative yachting plates to the famous marine photographer  Beken of Cowes, and his stock of positives to a distributor in Glasgow who quickly went out of business and disappeared with the material

15.06  LAUNCHING PHOTO.  Very rare, original 19th century West Coast albumen photograph documenting the launch of the famous U.S. Navy warship MOHICAN at the Mare Island Naval Yard.  The large original image is identified at the bottom “U + S +  Mohican + U.S. NAVY YARD, MARE ISLAND, CAL. – Launched – December 27th, 1883” and is signed lower right, “J.G. SMITH, Photographer, Vallejo, Cal.”  The scene shows the imposing wooden hulled vessel on the ways with a large number of onlookers standing about and several gathered at the second gun port on deck.  Above it is decoratively festooned with “dress ship” signal flags, flying the Union Jack from the fore and the American ensign aft.  The ship’s masts and spars are visible in the foreground as are a number of barrels.  In the distance are out buildings of the yard and the inlet between Mare Island and the town of Vallejo. The presentation is further enhanced with the vessel specifications:

LENGTH AT LOAD LEINE (sic)…216 feet.
BREADTH EXTREME……………. 38 feet.
DEPTH OF HOLD….………………19 feet.
TONNAGE…….………………1003 ¼ tons.
DISPLACEMENT….……………1900 tons.
NUMBER OF GUNS…...…………. EIGHT.”

The image measures 9 ¾ by 13 ½ inches sight and the original card measures 11 2/4 by 15 ½ inches.  It is housed under old wavy glass, secured with square nails, in its original ornately carved Eastlake walnut frame with fancy gilt liner measuring 19 ¼ by 23 inches overall. Condition is excellent, untouched, original.  There is some minor foxing to the mat lower right which in no way affects the inscriptions or the image.  It is very rare to find an image of this size and subject matter in untouched condition, especially taken on the West Coast.  Was 589 NOW! 389 

The steam/sail Sloop of War USS MOHICAN was laid down by Mare Island Navy Yard, California on September 4th, 1872and commissioned on May 25th, 1885.

Assigned to the Pacific Squadron, MOHICAN departed San Francisco in June 1885 to patrol the American coasts as far south as Callao, Peru, then departed in March 1886 for the South Pacific.  In July she made port in Auckland, New Zealand then surveyed Easter Island in December for the Smithsonian Institution.  Thereafter, into October 1892,  MOHICAN cruised the North Pacific.

Completing  overhaul in January 1893, MOHICAN became  the flagship of Admiral Skerrett, commander of the Pacific Squadron.  Following the overthrow of Hawaii 's last reigning monarch, Queen Liliuokalani, Skerrett and his new flagship arrived in Honolulu later that month to support the provisional Hawaiian government.  Subsequently, the ship remained on the Pacific coast until she was decommissioned at Mare Island in September 1895.

Due to the impending war with Spain, MOHICAN was recommissioned on February 8, 1898.   She made two voyages to Hawaii from March through September, protecting American interests.  At war’s end she was made a training ship at Mare Island.  The venerable sloop cruised the Pacific coast into 1902.  In January 1903 she sailed across the Pacific, making port calls in Honolulu, Christmas Island, Samoa, Guam and Yokohama.   In April 1904 she ship was designated station ship at the Naval Station, Subic Bay.

MOHICAN served as a submarine tender in Cavite into March 1913.  Thereafter she was designated as receiving ship at Cavite and stationary tender for the 1st Submarine Group, Torpedo Flotilla, Asiatic Fleet.  Though relieved of this duty by monitor MONADNOCK in June 1914, she continued as a tender through 1915.
 USS MOHICAN was decommissioned at Cavite on October 21, 1921 and sold to private interests in Manila

Mare Island, not really an island, but a peninsula, is located in the town of Vallejo, California with the Napa River to the east and San Pablo Bay (northeast San Francisco Bay) on the west.

15.03  HISTORIC STEREO CARDS.  Group of 3 original historically important stereo cards relating to the famous Battleship MAINE of Spanish-American War fame.  The oldest card, circa 1895, depicts the “New Battleship Maine,” as entitled lower right, on a port bow perspective.  The second graphically documents the horrific damage incurred by the ship on February 15, 1898.  It is entitled “General View of the Wrecked Battleship Maine” and is signed in cursive script on the ends, “Keystone View Company, Meadville, Pa; St. Louis, Mo., Copyright 1898 by B.L. Lingley.”  An extensive write-up of the ship’s characteristics and its demise is printed on the reverse.  The third card depicts the second Battleship Maine which was authorized soon after its namesake was sunk.  This truly “new” battleship Maine was launched ship and commissioned on.  The view depicts the stately ship with 3 funnels and 2 cage mast seen from the starboard side and is signed along the bottom “Copyright E. Muller Jr., N. Y.  / U.S.S. Maine, battleship.”  All three cards are in excellent original condition, measuring the standard 3 ¾ by 7 ¼ inches each.  59        
                 
The USS MAINE (ACR-1) was the first United States Navy ship to be named after the state of Maine.  Built by the New York Naval Shipyard in Brooklyn, New York she was launched on November 18, 1890 and commissioned as an armored cruiser on September 17, 1895.  At 324 feet in length and displacing 6,682 tons, her twin rotating gun turrets reflected the latest European naval developments.  The layout of her main armament closely resembled the British ironclad INFEXIBLE.  Her designers eliminated full masts thanks to the increased reliability of steam engines by that time.

The MAINE was best known for her loss in Havana Harbor, Cuba on the evening of February 15, 1898 which killed nearly three quarters of her crew. The cause of her sinking remained unclear after a board of inquiry was convened.  Nevertheless, popular opinion in the U.S., fanned by inflammatory articles printed in the "Yellow Press” by William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, blamed Spain. The phrase, "Remember the Maine", became a rallying cry for action. Action came in the form of the Spanish–American War, when on April 25, 1898 Congress declared that a state of war between the U.S. and Spain had existed since April 21, the day the U.S. had begun blockading Cuba.

The “new” USS MAINE (BB-10) was the lead ship of her pre-dreadnought battleship class, and second U.S. Navy ship to be so named.  Building the MAINE had been authorized by Congress on the heels of the destruction of her namesake in February 1898.  The new MAINE was laid down a year later at the William Cramp & Sons shipyard in Philadelphia, launched in July 1901 and commissioned in December 1902.  She was armed with a main battery of four 12-inch guns and could steam at 18 knots   MAINE served in the Atlantic her entire career with the North Atlantic Squadron until she joined the cruise of the Great White Fleet in December 1907.  However her heavy coal consumption prevented her from continuing past San Francisco.  During World War I MAINE was used as a training ship.  She remained in active service until May 1920, when she was decommissioned.  The ship was ultimately sold for scrap in January 1922 and broken up under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty.

15.02  19th CENTURY SHIP LAUNCHING PHOTO.  Genuine albumen photograph taken at the gala launching of the ship identified as the “Steamer Iron King.”   The wooden hulled vessel is shown on the ways with scores of well wishers on deck.  Above them numerous flags and pennants fly, including the ship’s name pennant discernable as “IRON KING.”  In The foreground several shipyard workers stand amidst dunnage and timbers.  Two gentlemen dressed in suits, their backs to the camera, possibly the owners, take in the scene.  The very clear image bears scrutiny under magnification to reveal numerous interesting details.  It measures 6 1/8 by 8 ¼ inches sight.  It is signed by the photographer “George W. Burger” lower left, of “Poughkeepsie, N.Y.” lower right.  It is boldly entitled “COLLYER BROS.’ LIGHTERING & TRANS. CO. STEAMER IRON KING.  John J. Baisden, Builder, Rondout, N.Y. Launched Aug. 17th, 1898.”  This authentic photograph is housed under old wavy glass in its original simple oak frame measuring 12 ¾ by 14 ¾ inches.  Untouched original condition.  295

The steamship IRON KING was built in Sleightsbury, N.Y. and launched in 1898.  It was a wooden hulled vessel 97.2 feet in length with a breadth of 30.4 feet, a draft of 9.3 feet and displaced 209 tons.  She was homeported out of New York Harbor.  (“List of Merchant Vessel of the United States, 1899”).  Interestingly, no listing of the ship is found in the subsequent 1900 volume, giving rise to speculation that the young ship was lost in its first year in service!