Snapshots of the Past

W. Mitchell McAllister – Vintage Photo Print

W. Mitchell McAllister, 1844 Ap. 3. — historic photograph
W. Mitchell McAllister, 1844 Ap. 3.. Historic photograph from the Daguerreotypes & Early Photography collection.

(Originally scanned by the Library of Congress. Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)

Description

This historic photograph of W. Mitchell McAllister brings a moment of history to your wall. The original is held by the Library of Congress, so what you hang is a true record of its time.

The framed print arrives ready to hang; the unframed option suits custom framing. It makes a striking addition to a living room, study or office, and a thoughtful gift. Free shipping in the lower 48 states. Snapshots of the Past has been bringing history to the wall since 2001, for tens of thousands of customers worldwide.

W. Mitchell McAllister

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A small sixth-plate daguerreotype, etched on the plate with the name W. Mitchell McAllister and the date April 3, 1844, shows a child who was still very young when it was made. A note on the case reads "Mitchell when a baby, 1843," suggesting the family was keeping images of him from his earliest months. Early daguerreotypes needed exposures of several seconds in good light, so sitters, especially small children, had to hold very still. The case, with its scroll design, is attributed to William Young McAllister, which makes the object as much a family keepsake as a photograph.

Created / published1844 Ap. 3.
Medium1 photograph : sixth plate daguerreotype.
GenreDaguerreotypes 1840-1850.Portrait photographs 1840-1850.
NotesCase: scroll design. Attributed to William Young McAllister. Etched on plate: W. Mitchell McAllister, Ap. 3, 1844. Note attached to case: Mitchell when a baby, 1843. Hallmark: Rinhart 21, except with 30 instead of 40 for the plate weight. Pressure sensitive label on case: 52. Purchase; Marian S. Carson; 1998; (DLC/PP-1998:151.7). Forms part of: Daguerreotype collection (Library of Congress). Forms part of: Marian S. Carson collection (Library of Congress) Published in: Gathering history: the Marian S. Carson collection of Americana. Washington, D.C. : Library of Congress, 1999, p. 104.
SubjectsMcAllister, William Mitchell,--1843-1912.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Original scan4,677 × 3,748 px · prints to 16 × 12 in at 300 dpi
Reference534_W_Mitchell_McAllister_1844

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