Stereographs project Business locations New Haven, CT, US Boston, MA, US New York City, NY, US [7-9] [Edward P. Best] Output known variously as "B" series, "Best" Series, and "Diamond H"; in early 70s, issued a few fair to good quality
pirated views, but in late 70s and 80s became
the most prolific producer of cheap,
poor-quality views. Lab processing was very
poor & views are typically very faded; had
factories in New York, Boston and, for a time,
New Haven. Relationship with Miller & Best
unclear, but were listed in partnership in
Boston, 82-85. Sales technique was making up
groups of 10-20 views for a city or area;
typically 80%+ of views issued were pirated,
although a few originals would be made if
adequate coverage didn't exist. These packages
were offered to local merchants as give-aways.
The option was offered to be listed as
"Publisher" & as a result, every sort of
business from drug store to undertaker is found
listed as such, even though they had nothing to
do with the actual publishing operation. Views
common, with broad and varied coverage, both
U.S. & foreign, as well as genre, comics, etc.
One virtue of the operation was that cheap views
were made available; another is that rare
originals often are only found in the pirated
version. T.K. Treadwell & William C. Darrah (Compiled by), Wolfgang, Sell (Updated by), 11/28/2003, Photographers of the United States of America, (National Stereoscopic Association) |
Credit: National Stereoscopic Association with corrections and additions by Alan Griffiths and others. |
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Preparing biographies
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