[Broadsheet advertisement for photographer Charles D. Fredricks.]

New York: “Knickerbocker” Family Portrait Gallery, No. 770 Broadway, 1869. Broadsheet, 10.9” x 8.25”.

An unrecorded broadsheet advertising the New York City photo gallery of Charles D. Fredricks, whose fascinating and notable career spanned the daguerreian and paper photography eras, and included adventures making daguerreotypes in South America.

New York-born Charles D. Fredricks (1823–1894) took lessons in daguerreotyping from Jeremiah Gurney in 1843 and subsequently traveled to Venezuela, Brazil, Peru (where he met and traveled with Humboldt.s friend, Bonpland), and Argentina. As asserted here, Fredricks “introduced photography into this country [i.e, the U.S.] on a grand scale in 1853, and brought from Paris, under contract, the celebrated artists, Constant Mayer, Job Vernet, Piot, Santain, Nehlig, Majesky, Gerhard, Louvrier, Herlich, Schultz, Aubert, and others.” Following the destruction by fire of his previous offices at 585 and 587 Broadway, Fredricks opened his “Knickerbocker” Family Portrait Gallery at 770 Broadway. The Skylight was on the first floor of the gallery, and it is noted that the photographer personally superintended all of the departments. “Every patron receives civil treatment, and is made to feel at home—a feeling so desirable for the occasion.”He states here that “The work performed is first class. Prices are the lowest in the city. Children are handled gently, and graceful poses obtained. The new style of Panel and Boudoir Picture is unsurpassed,” and so on. The portraits were finished in either oil, pastel, water colors, India ink or crayon, and reproductions could be ordered.

A biographical note on the verso entitled “How Fredricks Became a Photographer” (excerpted from Humphrey’s Photographic Journal of 20 Dec. 1869) provides a wealth of detail on his first two decades as a photographer, particularly regarding his adventures in South America.

Fredricks was particularly known for cartes de visites in the 1860s. Among the many subjects of his cdvs was John Wilkes Booth.

No copies recorded in WorldCat.

CONDITION: Good, creasing, old folds, short tear at middle fold, two small stains.