TWENTY MEXICAN PHOTOGRAPHS. 1860

Margolis & Moss / P.O. Box 2042 / Santa Fe, NM 87504. (505) 982-1028. [email protected]
TWENTY MEXICAN PHOTOGRAPHS.
1860 - 1920
#13.
~ All items are offered subject to prior sale. Photographs are in fine condition unless otherwise noted
and may be promptly returned for any reason. David Margolis & Jean Moss.
1. (Anonymous). NUN’S BLESSING. Mexico, 1900. Mounted albumen photograph. In ink on verso “Abril 20 de 1900.” 4 ½ x 6 ¾
inches.
A fantastic photograph of a dying sister, surrounded by a priest, four sisters and a young girl, receiving her last rights. Possibly
a post mortem photograph. $450.
2. (Anonymous). MEXICAN POLICEMAN BONITO. Circa 1865. Carte-de-visite size portrait of a young man in ornate clothes with a
sword. 2 ½ x 4 inches. On the verso in pencil is written “Mexican Policeman. Bonito.” Mounted albumen photograph. Bottom margin is
torn, just barely affecting the photograph. $135.
3. (Anonymous). A mounted albumen photograph, circa 1870. 5 ¾ x 4 inches.
Shown is a water carrier. Street “types” were often depicted in nineteenth century Mexican photographs. Of interest here is the
detail of the outfit, and the painted backdrop, depicting the end of the Mexico City aqueduct. $95.
4. (Anonymous). A silver gelatin print measuring 4 ½ x 6 ½ inches. Circa 1920.
An anonymous stage production with musicians and dancers with ornate charo costumes and backdrops. $75.
5. (Anonymous). JOSE MARIA BANDERA. (Mexico, 1868). Hand-colored albumen photograph. On verso is printed text. 2 ½ x 4
inches; minor loss of coloring in background.
Jose Maria Bandera was born in Pachuca, Hidalgo in 1832 and died in Mexico city in 1920. His medical specialty was
ophthalmology and he presided over the National Academy of Medicine in the 1870’s. The verso of this photographic business card
announces the opening of his practice in medicine and surgery in Mexico City, May 26, 1868. $350.
6. (Becerril, Lorenzo). CATEDRAL DE MEXICO. Circa 1885. Cabinet size, mounted albumen photograph with the blind stamp of the
photographer Becerril. 6 ½ x 4 ¼ inches. Yellow mount, verso blank; rounded corners, chipping on two corners.
A fine side view of Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de Maria, Mexico City’s main cathedral. Started in 1573, it is the
oldest and largest cathedral in the Americas.
Lorenzo Becerril was an active photographer in Puebla, Mexico from the 1860’s through the 1890’s. His most noted work was
his “Album Mexicano” which he published around 1890. $120.
7. (Briquet, Abel). PATIO DEL PALACIO FEDERAL. QUERETARO. Circa, 1895. Albumen photograph mounted to modern board,
measuring 5 x 7 ½ inches. Verso blank.
The Palacio Federal is a former Augustinian convent dating from the first half of the eighteenth century. The design of this
ornate building has been attributed to Ignacio Mariano de las Casas. Today it houses an art gallery and museum.
Abel Briquet came from France to Mexico in 1883 and became one of Mexico’s first “commercial” photographers. Between
1890 and 1910 he made hundreds of photographs of factories, hotels, railroads, churches and other points of interest He also issued a
number of important photographic albums. $150.
8. (Continent Stereoscopic Co). THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO. Circa 1885. Small cabinet size, mounted
albumen photograph with the caption in the negative and the company’s name on the mount. 4 ¼ x 6 ½ inches. Verso blank; light stains
to mount.
The Continent Stereoscopic Company was a major publisher of pirated and copy negatives. They produced their views in New
York City from the 1870’s through the 1890’s, claiming over 2,000 stereo views and mounted photographs. Among the notable
photographers of whom the company “borrowed” images were C. R. Savage, Ben Wittick, F. Jay Haynes, and William Henry Jackson.
As Jackson was known to have photographed in Chihuahua, it is possible he created this image. $85.
9. (Cruces y Campa). Hand-colored albumen photograph. Circa 1865. Three quarter length portrait of a woman, with the
photographer’s name and address on the mount. 2 ½ x 4 inches; corners rounded; verso blank.
A fine example of the excellent workmanship of this prominent Mexican City firm. Antioco Cruces and Luis Campa both
attended the Academia de San Carlos and established their first photographic gallery in 1862. They photographed a delegation of
Yaqui Indian Chiefs in 1865, participated in the 1867 Paris Universal Exposition and were medalists in the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in
Philadelphia. Their partnership dissolved in 1877 and Antioco Cruces continued in the photographic trade in Mexico until at least 1906.
$110.
10. (Cruces y Campo). JESÚS GONZÚLEZ ORTEGA. Mexico, c Circa 1865. Mounted albumen photograph. Bust portrait of this noted
General. From a series of presidents and generals issued by Cruces y Campa. 2 x 4 ½ inches. Printed text on verso; tones a bit light.
General Jesus Gonzalez Ortega had been a governor of Zacatecas and actively participated on the side of Benito Juárez in
the Reform War and during the French Intervention in Mexico. He commanded the defense of the City of Puebla from the French Army
in 1863. $150.
11. (Martin). VOLCAN DE COLIMA. VISTO DES DE COLIMA. COL. OCTOBRE, 1930. Blue toned silver gelatin print, captioned and
signed in the negative “Foto Martin. #29.” 7 ¼ x 11 ¼ inches; unmounted; light soiling in the margins.
The Colima volcano is one of the most active in Mexico and has erupted 40 times since 1576. $90.
12. (Matteson, Sumner W.). EL SUIGER AND POTTERS AT EL VALLE NEAR MOCORITO, SINALOA. (Mexico, 1907). Unmounted
silver gelatin print, with the photographer’s hand stamp on verso. 5 X 7 inches.
From 1898 to 1908 Matteson criss-crossed North America photographing his adventures for various periodical publications. In
1907 he spent ten months in Mexico. “That spring Matteson toured the major markets of central Mexico. Rising at dawn, he set up his
camera amidst the rows of fruits and vegetables, documenting the dress and demeanor of Mexican peasants, maids, and middle-class
merchants.” – page 27. Side Trips. The Photography of Sumner W. Matteson. $450.
13. (Michaud, Julio). CHINA. (Mexico, circa 1865). Hand colored albumen photograph showing a young woman in her “China
Poblana” outfit. On the verso, above the photographer’s address is the pencil notation “China.” 2 ¼ x 4 inches; a few light abrasions.
th
During the 19 century, the word “China” was used in Mexico to denote a lovely young lady, while at the same time the legend
developed of the “China Poblana,” the story of a seventeenth century Asian slave girl who lived in Puebla and refused to dress like the
locals. She maintained the dress of her distant homeland and this fashion caught on and became known as the “China Poblana.”
Julio Michaud photographed in Mexico city from the 1840’s until the 1860’s. He produced stereo views and cartes de visite, as
well as publishing books and photographic albums. He was the publisher of important works by Charnay and Aubert. $175.
.
14. (Michaud, Julio). LOS REMEDIOS VALLE DE MEXICO. Circa 1860. An albumen photograph on a printed mount, identifying
Michaud as the photographer and editor. The image measures 6 x 9 inches on a 8 ¼ x 10 ½ inch mount; the mount has a horizontal
crease, barely affecting the photograph.
Most likely issued in an early photographic book or album. $250.
15. (Rouse, A. F.). REPUBLIC OF MEXICO. Circa 1910. Toned silver gelatin print showing a composite of President Porfirio Diaz and
Vice President Ramon Corral. 9 x 7 ½ inches; unmounted.
A handsome composite photograph with artistic banners and the seal of Mexico. Other images in the same format are signed
in the negative by Rouse. $225.
16. (Segovia y Calderón). Albumen photograph of a statue of the Virgin, taken in Jalapa, circa 1870. On the verso is the printed
address of the photographers Segovia y Calderón. 2 ½ x 4 inches, small stains on verso.
The Catholic Church offered photographers much patronage during the nineteenth century. From images of the churches and
alters, to statuary, portraits of priests and church notables, and finally personal photographs of important church activities such as
baptisms, confirmations. This nice portrait of a statue from Jalapa is a fine example. $50.
17. (Tabor, Isaiah). MONUMENT, ON BOUNDRY LINE BETWEEN UNITED STATES AND MEXICO. Circa 1890. Mounted albumen
photograph, 5 x 7 ¾ inches on 9 ¼ x 11 inch stiff board.
A fine image of the U.S. Mexico boundary markers installed during the boundary survey of the 1850’s. $185.
18. (Torres Vargas). PALACIO MUNICIPAL DE ZAMORA. 1916. Silver gelatin print, 6 ½ x 4 ¾ inches. Signed in the negative “Torres
Vargas, Foto.” Unmounted; crease in upper right corner.
Printed in the negative is the title, plus “El Presedente Sr. V. Flores y __ Sr. A. Blanco. En su despacho. 9.16.1916.” The sign
on the desk commands visitors to “Be Brief.” $110.
19. (Valleto y Ca.). Carte-de-visite photograph depicting a man and a woman seated at a table viewing a photographic album. Mexico,
1867. 2 ½ x 4 inches.
On the verso in pencil is written “Conde Alfredo Cipriani” and in ink “y Da. Luisa de Jauregui (?). Mexijo, Mayo 30 / 67.”
In early 1865 Julio, Guillermo and Ricardo Valleto y Herrera established their photographic gallery in Mexico City. The firm
catered to the elite of Mexico City and remained an important gallery for almost fifty years. $120.
20. (Velasco). ZACATECAS. Circa 1885. Mounted albumen photograph, 5 ½ x 8 ½ inches. Photographer’s logo on verso; some light
wear.
A fine view of a tree lined Zacateca’s boulevard with the main Cathedral in the background. $175.