270

Broadside for the Metropolitan Daguerrean Gift Company.

Boston: People's Printing Rooms, circa 1856
Letterpress broadside, 14 x 9 inches, signed in type by George Clark Jr. as general agent; folds, 3 short tape repairs, minor dampstaining, moderate edge wear.

This broadside advertises a sort of lottery to drum up business for a Boston photography studio. Anyone purchasing a portrait for one dollar was entered into a drawing for one of about 97,000 gifts. Most of the prizes were engravings or "miscellaneous gifts," with a handful of cash prizes of up to $5,000, plus 15 pieces of real estate, 7 pianos, and various pieces of jewelry. Several newspaper testimonials attest to the quality of the studio's work.

George Clark Jr. operated a daguerreotype studio at 59 Court Street from about 1853 to 1861. As for the printer, the only reference we find to the People's Printing Office is a fire at this 14 Franklin Avenue address described in the 19 March 1856 Boston Evening Transcript.

No other examples traced in OCLC or elsewhere.

  • Condition: Please contact the Specialist for the auction to request a condition report.

    Condition reports and additional images are provided as a courtesy and should be used by you to aid in the formation of your own opinion regarding condition. All material is sold subject to Swann's standard Terms and Conditions of Sale as published in our catalogues and posted on our website, and include the following terms: (1) all property is sold "as-is"; and (2) works cannot be returned on the basis of condition.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Upon request, Swann will facilitate the shipping of purchases to out-of-town buyers at an additional charge for packing, shipping and insurance, but will not be responsible for any loss, damage or delay resulting from the packing, handling and shipping thereof. Unless specific instructions are received, Swann is the sole judge of the method to be used for shipment. Packing and shipping costs will be noted on the invoice mailed to successful bidders after the sale, and are based on the actual costs involved. Be advised that a full commercial invoice must accompany any purchase shipped outside the US.

Swann Auction Galleries

You agree to pay a buyer’s premium, as outlined below, and any applicable taxes and shipping.
Buyer's Premium
$0 - $100,000:
27.00%
$100,001 - $1,000,000:
22.00%
$1,000,001+:
12.00%

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $149 $10
$150 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $5,999 $200
$6,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 $499,999 $20,000
$500,000 + $50,000