Heading: Author: Pillsbury, Arthur C. Title: Vernal Falls Place Published: [Yosemite Valley, California] Publisher: Date Published: c.1910 Description: Silver photograph. 34x12.8 cm (13½x5"), tipped to mount: 51x41 cm (20x16¼").Elongated view of Yosemite's Vernal Fall by Arthur C. Pillsbury (1870-1946), who operated a studio in Yosemite from 1907 until its burning in 1927.
Group of very fine black & white photographs thought to be by prolific, important photographer and inventor Arthur C. Pillsbury (1870-1946). In this essay, historic photographers of Yosemite will be casually discussed with a more inclusive discussion of Arthur C. Pillsbury. Nine Yosemite photographs plus two British Columbia panoramic views. None of the Yosemite photographs are signed, but six of the nine photographs have five digit inventory (photograph) numbers. Most of these have a secondary four digit number written in the white border near the 6 digit number within the body of the photograph. None have Pillsburys name. Several are titled, and these strongly resemble some of the hand written titled photographs of Pillsbury where his name appears in the lower portion of the photos. All of these photos are in excellent condition. The two panoramas contain: ÏCopyright 1906 by the Pillsbury Picture Co., S.F. No. (4 digit number). Ach has a title at left, here: Yoho Valley from Lower Lookout point, and ÏNatural bridge near Field (British Columbia). About 3.25 x 11.5 each. These two photos are adhered to a board and were poorly set in developer and fix, causing strong contrast problems, probably produced by an employee of Pillsbury, as his level of perfection was far above what is seen here, and I (fh) think these would have been thrown out if done by Pillsbury himself. These latter two do offer, however, a window into who made the Yosemite photos subject of this lot, vis a vie the lettering and later hand numbering system. Contents of the Yosemite group include: Glacier Point Lodge about 1916, 6.25 x 8.125, #8104; Yosemite Falls , same size, #8080; Twin peaks (?), same size, #8085; drive-thru tree, same size, #10166, almost sepia-toned; lower portion of drive thru tree, possibly #10153 (blurred), almost sepia toned, about 9.75 x 7.75; Half Dome & valley (possibly from Glacier Point), same size, #10081; ÏThree Brothers, no number, same size; Merced River and Yosemite Valley, same size, #10092; Half Dome, #10034, same size. Of this group there is an absolute stand-out, exceptional photograph of the highest quality- contrast, focus, context and content, which is the view of Yosemite Falls. It is worthy of any museum, and clearly shows the ability of the photographer to capture great depth of field while not sacrificing contrast and focus. Provenance: Nevada Historic Photograph Collection, collected c 1920-1935 landing with a Nevada family since inception. This collection, much in this sale, contains exceptional larger format (5 x 7 or greater Ò no snapshots) black and white photographs from around the world taken with high quality cameras with attendant great care to the developing and presentation of the final photographs, and in many cases by some of the most famous photographers. While only some of the photographs are hand signed, others are print signed, and others appear to be trackable, such as Pillsbury, though there are at least four print-signed Pillsbury photographs in this sale from this excellent collection. Yosemite Fine photographs by Arthur C. Pillsbury (?) Fred N. Holabird Group of very fine black & white photographs thought to be by prolific, important photographer and inventor Arthur C. Pillsbury (1870-1946). In this essay, historic photographers of Yosemite will be casually discussed with a more inclusive discussion of Arthur C. Pillsbury. Nine Yosemite photographs plus two British Columbia panoramic views. None of the Yosemite photographs are signed, but six of the nine photographs have five digit inventory (photograph) numbers. Most of these have a secondary four digit number written in the white border near the 6 digit number within the body of the photograph. None have Pillsbury[x=#8217/]s name. Several are titled, and these strongly resemble some of the hand written titled photographs of Pillsbury where his name appears in the lower portion of the photos. All of these photos are in excellent condition. The two panoramas contain: [x=#8220/]Copyright 1906 by the Pillsbury Picture Co., S.F. No. (4 digit number). Ach has a title at left, here: Yoho Valley from Lower Lookout point[x=#8221/], and [x=#8220/]Natural bridge near Field[x=#8221/] (British Columbia). About 3.25 x 11.5[x=#8221/] each. These two photos are adhered to a board and were poorly set in developer and fix, causing strong contrast problems, probably produced by an employee of Pillsbury, as his level of perfection was far above what is seen here, and I (fh) think these would have been thrown out if done by Pillsbury himself. These latter two do offer, however, a window into who made the Yosemite photos subject of this lot, vis a vie the lettering and later hand numbering system. Contents of the Yosemite group include: Glacier Point Lodge about 1916, 6.25 x 8.125, #8104; Yosemite Falls , same size, #8080; Twin peaks (?), same size, #8085; drive-thru tree, same size, #10166, almost sepia-toned; lower portion of drive thru tree, possibly #10153 (blurred), almost sepia toned, about 9.75 x 7.75[x=#8221/]; Half Dome & valley (possibly from Glacier Point), same size, #10081; [x=#8220/]Three Brothers[x=#8221/], no number, same size; Merced River and Yosemite Valley, same size, #10092; Half Dome, #10034, same size. Of this group there is an absolute stand-out, exceptional photograph of the highest quality- contrast, focus, context and content, which is the view of Yosemite Falls. It is worthy of any museum, and clearly shows the ability of the photographer to capture great depth of field while not sacrificing contrast and focus. Provenance: Nevada Historic Photograph Collection, collected c 1920-1935 landing with a Nevada family since inception. This collection, much in this sale, contains exceptional larger format (5 x 7 or greater [x=#8211/] no snapshots) black and white photographs from around the world taken with high quality cameras with attendant great care to the developing and presentation of the final photographs, and in many cases by some of the most famous photographers. While only some of the photographs are hand signed, others are print signed, and others appear to be trackable, such as Pillsbury, though there are at least four print-signed Pillsbury photographs in this sale from this excellent collection. Brief History of Photography at Yosemite -An Essay [x=#8211/] by Fred Holabird. Omissions are a fault of my own. Please consider this an outline. Much of what follows is extracted from Palmquist & Kailbourne, Pioneer Photographers of the Far West, 2000, Stanford Press. Other info from Stanford Univ, Fiske and Pillsbury biographies, and California Photograph Club Magazine archive as well as Carl Mautz[x=#8217/]s Biographies of Western Photographers. 1851. Mariposa [x=#8220/]Battalion[x=#8221/] to Yosemite Valley to relocate Awaneechees. No photographs. 1854. J.M. Hutchings publishes illustrated California lettersheets, including Mammoth Trees, Calaveras, and on the letter sheet states : [x=#8220/]From a Daguerreotype taken by JMH[x=#8221/]. None of Hutchings[x=#8217/] dags exist today. 1855. Stereo photos coming into marketplace. Hutchings purchases a daguerreotype wagon in Sacramento. Employs artist Ayers to render sketches of Yosemite, published in first Hutchings California Magazine, with obvious inference that the sketches are from Hutchings Daguerreotypes. 1857. Galen Clark. To Yosemite, possibly with Charles L. Weed. 1859. Galen Clark, upper and lower hotel. Clark was the first appointed Yosemite Guardian, appointed a second time 1889-1896. R.H. Vance sold C.L. Weed Yosemite photographs in SF gallery. Some critiqued Weed[x=#8217/]s photos as [x=#8220/]falt, lacking depth.[x=#8221/] Hutchings commissions Weed to create a Yosemite panorama photo. From 10 x 14[x=#8221/] views. David H. Woods(1830-1911) to Yosemite. No photos verified by Pamquist & Kailbourn. 1860. Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902) paints Rocky Mountains, paintings do not sell. Considered first Western landscape paintings. (this ignores the Gold Rush artists). 1860-1872. Hutchings ran the Hutchings House Hotel. 1861. Carleton Watkins to Yosemite Watkins published 30 mammoth plates and took 100 stereo negatives. 1862. Watkins exhibition of his Yosemite photos. 1863. Bierstadt, brother and party to Yosemite Valley in August. Clarence Kind, JD Whitney, JT Garnder Wm Brewer et al to Yosemite as part of a government survey. Watkins was the principal photographer. Written work dated 1868 was actually published in 1869 with original albumen photos. 1864. Lawrence & Houseworth expedition to Yosemite, with C. L. Weed. Alfred A. Hart may have accompanied them. may have accompanied them 1865-6. Two Watkins photographic expeditions to Yosemite 1867. Carleton Watkins displays Yosemite at Paris World[x=#8217/]s Fair. Bierstadt displays large canvases of Yosemite (up to 9 x 15 feet). Martin M. Hazeltine to Yosemite, published prints c 1867-1876. A photo expedition to Yosemite was attended by Shew, Vance and Muybridge. E. Muybridge makes his first trip to Yosemite 1868. John Muir[x=#8217/]s first trip to Yosemite. Muybridge begins working for Carleton Watkins. John Soule may have used some Hazeltine negatives in his Yosemite prints. Lawrence & Houseworth had a show in SF on Yosemite and Big Trees. Muybridge issues a prospectus of his Yosemite photos: [x=#8220/]Scenery of the Yosemite Valley[x=#8221/] with 20 6 x 8[x=#8221/] photos. Hittell publishes Muybridge[x=#8217/]s Yosemite views in [x=#8220/]Yosemite; Its Wonders and Its Beauties[x=#8221/] of the same 20 photos in carte de visite size. 1869. The publication: [x=#8220/]The Yosemite Book[x=#8221/] by Josiah D. Whitney (later of the California Geologic Survey), dated 1868. Data from their 1863 expedition, 24 albumen photos by Carleton Watkins, and 4 by W. Harris (not mentioned in Palmquist). 1870. [x=#8220/]Yosemite Guidebook, A Description of the Yosemite Valley and Adjacent Region[x=#8230/][x=#8221/] (no photos, only woodcuts from photos, possibly those of Watkins). 1871. Houseworth published original photos in [x=#8220/]Tourist Guide to the shortest Route to the Yosemite Valley.[x=#8221/] Also published: [x=#8220/]The Wonders of Yosemite Valley,[x=#8221/] by Sam Kneeland, published with 10 original photos by John Soule (not in Palmquist or Mautz). 1872. Bierstadt and Eadweard Muybridge (1830-1904) to Yosemite. Muybridge photos published by Bradley & Rulofson of SF to great acclaim. (Bitter feud between Houseworth and B&R) 1875. Another Muybridge expedition to Yosemite 1876. Clark shoots Wawona. 1878-1881. Watkins expeditions to Yosemite C1880. George Fiske photographs upper and lower villages. Fiske became John Muir[x=#8217/]s favorite photographer by far. Felt Watkins and others were washed out and flat, lacking depth. 1890. Yosemite National Park established by Congress. 1892. Sierra Club formed with the specific purpose to transfer Yosemite Valley and the Grove into Yosemite National Park. 1897. A. C. Pillsbury (1870-1946) to Yosemite, purchases studio. Later published brown sepia-tone photos, possibly the first such. Pillsbury was known for [x=#8220/]sensational landscapes of Yosemite.[x=#8221/] Invented circuit panorama camera, and many more photographic inventions, becoming the quintessential 20th century photographer at the front end of the 20th century. 1899. Post Card era begins. Early pioneer cards of California feature Yosemite. 1901-1903. Fiske has the principal galley in Yosemite Valley in the [x=#8220/]Sierra Club Village.[x=#8221/] Many of Fiske[x=#8217/]s photos are titled, numbered and signed [x=#8220/]Fiske.[x=#8221/] 1902. First California Camera Club outing to Yosemite. 25 participants. Begins an annual barrage of photographic camps to Yosemite. 1909. Pillsbury makes first [x=#8220/]nature[x=#8221/] movie. 1910. Pillsbury invents time-lapse photography, known then as [x=#8220/]photo microscopy[x=#8221/] 1921. Pillsbury publishes first guide for Yosemite Photographers. 1927-1931. Ansel Adams (1902-1984) works for Curry Co. makes prints of Yosemite from Fiske[x=#8217/]s negatives for sale at the gallery. 1929. Pillsbury invents first motion x-ray camera. 1930s. Adams delves deeply into professional photography, continuing a life-long passion with Yosemite. 1943. Fiske[x=#8217/]s Yosemite negatives destroyed by Fire. California
PILLSBURY, Arthur C. (1870-1946), photographer. The Burning of San Francisco. April 18, 06. View from St. Francis Hotel, No. 101. 1906. 40 3/4 x 7 1/2 in. (sight) silver gelatin photograph, housed in original oak frame, 46 1/2 x 13 in. (slight loss and some wrinkling of the print; some edge wear including crescent shaped area of loss to top edge of frame; conserved using acid-free backing and glass). Titled and credited in the negative, lower margin, "The Burning of San Francisco. April 18, 06. Copyright 1906. Pillsbury Picture Co. View from St. Francis Hotel, No. 101." A panoramic view of the incredible destruction wrought by the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906. This lot is located in Cincinnati.
Arthur C. Pillsbury (1870-1946) North Dome, Yosemite, c. 1910 Silvertone, credit label, titled in ink, affixed to the original frame backing. 6 1/2 x 4 1/4in (16.5 x 10.8cm); original frame For further information on this lot please visit the Bonhams website
Arthur C. Pillsbury (1870-1946) Birch Trees by Water; Two Riders Silhouetted against Water, c. 1920 2 orotones. (2) each 9 x 6 1/2in (22.8 x 16.5cm); each with period frame For further information on this lot please visit the Bonhams website
Arthur C. Pillsbury (1870-1946) Gates of Yosemite; and Sunshine in the Redwoods, c. 1900 3 orotones, each titled in ink on the 'Pillsbury's Pictures of Yosemite' credit label affixed on the frame backing. (3) varying sizes from 7 x 17 1/2in (17.8 x 43.2cm) to 13 3/4 x 9in (34.9 x 22.8cm); each with period frame For further information on this lot please visit the Bonhams website
Arthur C. Pillsbury (1870-1946) Selected images of Yosemite, c. 1910 4 miniature orotones, 2 with credit label titled in ink affixed on the frame backing. (4) each 4 1/4 x 6 3/4in (10.8 x 17.2cm) or the reverse; each with original period frame For further information on this lot please visit the Bonhams website
Arthur Clarence Pillsbury (1870–1946) PANORAMA PHOTOGRAPHS OF SAN FRANCISCO, TITLED DEAR OLD SAN FRANCISCO AND PANORAMA OF SAN FRANCISCO FROM THE GRANT BUILDING, April 14 - 28, 1906, showing the same view immediatelly before and after the 1906 earthquake and fire. Silver gelatin prints (2), image size 980 x 250mm, 950 x 250mm, titled dated and numbered annotated in negative, Pillsbury Picture Co copyright in negative, titled in pencil verso.
Arthur Clarence Pillsbury (1870-1946 American) ''El Capitan'' Orotone Photograph 17''x14'' Image. An impressive large goldtone landscape photo. Original Pillsbury's Pictures Inc. D'Orotone Print label on verso. Original framing with backing intact 20.25''x17.25''. Excellent condition.
Arthur Clarence Pillsbury (1870-1946 American) ''The Gates of Yosemite'' Orotone Photograph. 20''x24'' Image. An impressive large goldtone landscape photo. Original Pillsbury's Pictures Inc. D'Orotone Print label on verso. Original framing with backing intact 25''x29.5''. A few small blemishes in sky. Overall excellent condition.
Arthur Clarence Pillsbury (1870-1946 American) ''El Capitan'' Orotone Photograph 17''x14'' Image. An impressive large goldtone landscape photo. Original Pillsbury's Pictures Inc. D'Orotone Print label on verso. Original framing with backing intact 20.25''x17.25''. Excellent condition.
Arthur Clarence Pillsbury (1870-1946 American) ''The Gates of Yosemite'' Orotone Photograph 20''x24'' Image. An impressive large goldtone landscape photo. Original Pillsbury's Pictures Inc. D'Orotone Print label on verso. Original framing with backing intact 25''x29.5''. A few small blemishes in sky. Overall excellent condition.
ARTHUR C. PILLSBURY (1870-1946) A pair of orotones from Yosemite. Orotones, the plates measuring 13 1/2x10 1/2 inches (34.3x26.7 cm.), the original frames approximately 17 1/4x14 1/2 inches (43.8x36.8 cm.), one with remnants of a Pillsbury label on frame verso. Circa 1900-20
MATTE SILVER BROMIDE PHOTOGRAPH - El Capitan, Yosemite, by Arthur C. Pillsbury (1870-1946), in replica matched corner Arts & Craft deep cove frame, SS: 9 3/4" x 12 3/4", OS: 14" x 17", fine condition. From an Occidental, CA home.
OROTONE PHOTOGRAPH - Valley View, Yosemite, El Capitan, Cathedral Spires & Bridal Falls by Arthur C. Pillsbury (1870-1946), ca 1915, in deep walnut molded cove frame with gold liner, glazed, SS: 7 5/8" x 9 5/8", OS: 12" x 14", very good condition. From an Occidental, CA home.
MATTE SILVER BROMIDE PHOTOGRAPH - El Capitan, Yosemite, by Arthur C. Pillsbury (1870-1946), in replica matched corner Arts & Craft deep cove frame, SS: 9 3/4" x 12 3/4", OS: 14" x 17", fine condition. From an Occidental, CA home.
OROTONE PHOTOGRAPH - Valley View, Yosemite, El Capitan, Cathedral Spires & Bridal Falls by Arthur C. Pillsbury (1870-1946), ca 1915, in deep walnut molded cove frame with gold liner, glazed, SS: 7 5/8" x 9 5/8", OS: 12" x 14", very good condition. From an Occidental, CA home.
Original black and white photograph taken in Redwood National Forest, showing a small wooden bridge in the foreground and a single horse-drawn buggy on a dirt road along with the big trees in the foreground. Lettered in the negative "Pillsbury Picture Co. No. 14108" and titled "In the Redwoods." 12 3/4 x5" with paper backing and period wooden frame. The Pillsbury Picture Company was founded one month before the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire in 1906 by Arthur Clarence Pillsbury (1870-1946). They were the largest distributor of postcards on the west coast for the first part of the twentieth century. Pillsbury owned and ran the Studio of the Three Arrows in Yosemite Valley from 1896 to 1928, where the first time-lapse movie of flowers blooming was produced and filmed. He is also credited for several photographic inventions, including the panorama camera in 1897, the time-lapse camera in 1912, the microscopic motion picture camera in 1913, the first X-ray motion picture camera in 1917, the first color motion picture in 1923, and the first underwater motion picture camera.
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