William Henry Jackson
1873, 24 August (taken)
Mount of the Holy Cross

Gelatin silver print, hand-colored by his Son Clarence Jackson
11 x 14 ins (image)
 
Cowan's Auctions, Inc
3/15/2018- American History: Timed Online Auction - ends 3/26, Lot: 246
 
Consignor relates that the original mat with signature was ruined due to lack of care by previous owner. Printer of the photograph, Clarence Jackson, had signed the original mat, but only an "L: in the signature was legible, so print was re-matted later.
 
Accompanied by typed letter, which describes the photograph:
 
"The original picture of the Mount of the Holy Cross was taken on Sunday Morning August 24, 1873 from the top of Notch Mountain. Taken by William Jackson on a 11 x 14 wet plate which was made and developed on the spot where it was taken, the top of Notch Mountain. The clouds were photographed in 1890 from the roof of the Mining Exchange Building in Denver, Colorado by William Jackson's son Clarence Jackson. Clarence Jackson superimposed the clouds over the original photo of the Mount of the Holy Cross there-by making the most noted photograph of the United States."
 
Signed my "M. Stanley."
 
Consignor relates that Clarence Jackson presented this print to his friend M. Stanley (the signer of the accompanying letter). In turn, the print descended in the family of the consignor's former wife, with his former wife's father gifting the print to the consignor in 1971.
 
Research indicates that a set containing similar prints is housed at the Western History Collection of the Denver Public Library, which is described as follows: "1950 Portfolio of Photographs from Original Water Color Paintings by W.H.Jackson. Denver: Clarence Jackson, 1950. In three volumes, each volume with 20 leaves of 13 x 9 in. hand—colored silver gelatin prints mounted on individual 14 x 10 ½ in. framing mats in a fine green leather portfolio, 18 ½ x 14 in. An extremely unusual item. Clarence Jackson, the photographer's son, made black—and—white silver gelatin prints of original Jackson paintings, and then hand—colored them consistent with the original paintings. There are at least three extant sets. One was inscribed by Clarence: This collection was hand—colored by his son Clarence S. Jackson for Fred A. Rosenstock. A letter accompanying this set from Jackson to Rosenstock indicates that this is the “only one I have ever made up in this complete form--- three albums of 20 pictures each…” That may been the case at the time."
 
A second set was prepared for Dr. John M. Christlieb of the Greater Omaha Historical Society, and a third set is held by the Colorado Historical Society.
 
LL/82791