Daguerreotype Photographer SF CONANT CDV COMPOSITE Self Portrait

Up for auction is this great c1860's CDV COMPOSITE self portrait of the photographer S. F. Conant. Each image of the composite was numbered on the negative thus printing white in the image and each is described on the back. The backmark starts with "This Emence Display of Talent, HAVE BEEN ENGAGED FOR THE SEASON!, At S. F.Conant's Photo Gallery, SKOWHEGAN, ME.

This is an amazing image for it's time. Just think this was done in the darkroom ... not on the computer. 

Guaranteed to be original ... not a modern copy or reproduction.

The backmark then has the information about each image in the composite on the front. I will describe below ... I did not correct the missed spelled words.

Image #1 Bottom Center - "No.1. i promis ter be on hand as waitter-boy and awl picters shall be well swashed bi me. - SAM For short."

Image #2 Top Upper Right - "No.2. I agree that my duty as Chemical rectefyer, shall be promply attended to. - S. CONANT."

Image #3 Upper Right (Clockwise from #2) - "No.3. I agree to attend to my duty as Poser in such manner as will please all with thear position. - FIELDS CONANT."

Image #4 Mid Right (Clockwise from #3) - "No.4. I promise all patrons as Operator, that no picture shall be allowed to go out unless of sharp focus. - SAM."

Image #5 Mid above #1 - "No.5. I agree as Developer, that all pictures shall be developed true to life. - SAMUEL FIELDS."

Image #6 Between 4-5 Lower - "No.6. As Printer I stand unrivaled. With the aid of Conant's Patent Printing Frame, contact is certain. - S.F.C."

Image #7 Top - Top Hat - "No.7. - ime overseer of this crew and if they don't du the picters up in style, I look on um in skorn. - SAMBO."

Image #8 Top - Left of #7 (no top hat) - "No.8. - ive got the baby's cart and shase, ter take care on, while the little critters are havin thare picters tooken. - SAM U WELL."

Image #9 Upper left (Lower Left of #8 - top hat) - "No.9. - havin hired out ter tork to the galls when tha ar watin for picters, ime shure ov pleasin. - CON ANT."

Image #10 Middle Below #7 - "No.10. - ime grate on amusin the little babs for there muthers, when they are get in on um ready. - LARFIN SAM."

Image #11 Bottom Left - "No.11 - ide like to show u awl som uv mi foto crayons, coss tha beet awl creashun for picters. - SAM CONANT."

Image #12 Bottom Right - "No.12 - I claim to be proprietor, conductor, manager and sole dictator of this Gallery. - S.F. CONANT, Skowhegan, Me."

The image photos below are a good representation of the actual image. There are some spots and foxing on the image as seen in the images below. The image is sold as is and you should use the photos below for your judgement on condition.