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Jos Haven Thacher Apothecary.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 1863. Albumen print photograph, 8.25” x 10.25”, on larger paperboard mount with revenue stamp dated 1865 on verso. In original frame with inscription on verso reading “Taken in Portsmouth 1863 Cor. Pleasant and State Sts.”.

A fine and early Portsmouth, New Hampshire street scene showing a man proudly seated in his horse-drawn sulkie in front of the apothecary shop of Joseph Haven Thacher, with other residents of Portsmouth looking on.

It seems likely that the driver is Thacher himself. The photograph may indeed have functioned as an advertisement for the shop. According to the Portsmouth Athenaeum, ”Joseph Haven Thacher (February 10, 1825 – January 5, 1892), the son of Henry S. Thacher of Biddeford , Maine and Elizabeth Haven Wardrobe, began his druggist’s business at the corner of State and Pleasant Streets before 1851…In 1860 he purchased his brother Nathan Parker Thacher’s business at 12 Market Square though Nathan continued to operate it until his death in 1867.”

A very appealing 1860s trade photograph.

CONDITION: Some spotting (relating to the photo chemistry), but good tonality.

REFERENCES: Green's Drug Store, 1864–1965, at portsmouthathenaeum.org.

Item #3299

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