144
●
MCCLEES, JAMES E. (1821-1887)
Group of 3 rare, very early views depicting
buildings in Philadelphia. Albumenized salted
paper prints [crystalotypes], each approximately
9
1
/
4
x6
3
/
4
inches (23.5x17.2 cm.), on period
mounts, 2 with descriptive titles, in ink and pencil,
and one with McClees’ blind stamp, all on mounts
recto. Circa 1854
[4,000/6,000]
WITH
—Clipper ships, Philadelphia, by Francis Frith.
Albumen print, 5
3
/
8
x10 inches, with a caption on
mount recto. 1870s
.
The term “crystalotype” was patented by JohnWhipple
to refer to a negative process in which albumen plates and
salted paper prints were created from his glass negatives.
McClees and his business partner W.L. Germon
purchased Whipple’s crystalotype patent in 1853 and
went on to open photography studios inWashington and
Philadelphia that resembled art galleries.
145
●
RICHARDS, FREDERICK DE
BOURG (1822-1903)
The Fisher House, Philadelphia. Salted paper
print, 7
3
/
4
x6 inches (19.7x15.2 cm.), mounted
to a thin blue paper, with Richards’ signature,
in ink, and captioned with a lengthy description
of the residents of The Fisher House, also in ink,
all on mount recto. 1859
[2,500/3,500]
Frederick De Bourg Richards was an accomplished
landscape painter as well as photographer. In addition
to documenting many of the historic residencies and
buildings around Philadelphia, Richards also owned
and operated a daguerreotype gallery and was known
for his “life size” daguerreotypes.
144
145
