GALLERY

This standing man wears two gold earrings. Many people believe that any 19th century man wearing earrings was a sailor, and some say that it means they crossed the equator. I agree that many are sailors, but also allow for the possibility that sometimes the earrings were simply a fashion choice.

The man has his slicked back hair. He wears a vest with an impressionistic pattern beneath his jacket. He's holds a book in one hand, and something else in the other, perhaps pertaining to his trade.

SIZE. Sixth plate.

HOUSING. This daguerreotype came in a broken case, so we 'married' it to the Clipper Ship case. This is case #100, 'The Clipper Ship and the Fort,' in Union Cases, by Krainik, Krainik, and Walvoord. The book lists it as Scarce. This is case #1-59, 'Clipper Ship,' in Nineteenth Century Photographic Cases and Wall Frames, by Paul Berg. The book lists it as Scarce. The case has wear, but the clasp works.

CONDITION. Light mold spiders (a misnomer as it's actually particles of glass). Light scratches. Bad glass replaced with hand-cut, high-quality, borosilicate glass. Resealed.

APPEARANCE. Very good tonal range. Very good contrast. Sharp and bright. A strong portrait.