Snapshots of the Past

[First American Chess Congress held in New York City, November 1857] – Antique Print

[First American Chess Congress held in New York City, November 1857], 1857 — historic photograph
[First American Chess Congress held in New York City, November 1857], 1857. Historic photograph from the New York City 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 rare historic photograph captures [First American Chess Congress held in New York City, November 1857] in remarkable detail. Sourced directly from the Library of Congress, it represents an authentic piece of documented history.

Framed, it is ready for the wall; unframed, it is ready for the frame you choose. 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.

[First American Chess Congress held in New York City, November 1857]

Order a print

Secure checkout · SSL encryptedPowered by Stripe and PayPal

Free shipping in the lower 48 states. The checkout page shows the picture, size and price before you pay.

Sign up for our newsletter

Sent securely. No purchase needed. Unsubscribe anytime.

Ask about licensing or this print

The record ties this salted paper print to the First American Chess Congress, which met in New York City in November 1857, the first large national gathering of American chess players. Paul Morphy, a young New Orleans player, won the main tournament there, and his success helped make him an international figure. Salted paper prints were an early photographic process, usually made from paper coated with salt and silver nitrate, and they were popular in the 1850s. The library's record does not name the photographer or the source, so the exact scene and the people in it cannot be confirmed from the catalog entry alone.

Created / published1857
Medium1 photographic print : salted paper.
GenreSalted paper prints 1850-1860.
NotesTitle devised by Library staff. Source unknown.
SubjectsAmerican Chess Congress (1st :--1857 :--New York, N.Y.) Chess--1850-1860.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Original scan1,536 × 1,242 px · prints to 5 × 4 in at 300 dpi
ReferenceAMZ-SOTP-HPA-111240

More from the New York City collection

Snapshots of the Past helps heritage brands, museums, historians and storytellers tell stories with history: historic prints, image licensing and historical storytelling drawn from more than 25 years of research and curation.

Related pictures

Vintage Nautical Print - New York City - The Lusitania's first, 1907 (2)Vintage Nautical Print - New York City - The Lusitania's first, 1907 (2)[New York (City)--Fifth Avenue at Fifty-First Street][New York (City)--Fifth Avenue at Fifty-First Street]The United States' first foreign trade zone, Staten Island, city of New York, opened February 1, 1937 / Herzog.The United States' first foreign trade zone, Staten Island, city of New York, opThe United States' first foreign trade zone Staten Island, City of New York, opened February 1, 1937 / J. Rivolta.The United States' first foreign trade zone Staten Island, City of New York, opeNew York City ballet Cleveland Opera Association presents first time in Cleveland Music Hall - 4 performances / Dick Dodge.New York City ballet Cleveland Opera Association presents first time in ClevelanFifth Avenue at Fifty-first Street, New York CityFifth Avenue at Fifty-first Street, New York City