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Lot 510: Early Rufus Porter Moody Theatrical Photograph

Est: $200 USD - $400 USDPassed
Orange County Estate LiquidatorsOtisville, NY, USNovember 30, 2019

Item Overview

Description




Early Rufus Moody Photograph
(1873-1922)

Signed "To Vera with best wishes Andy" Blind stamped Moody, NY Stamped on reverse with his first address of 243 W. 42nd St., New York. He left this location in 1917. Moody a famous New York City theatrical photographer and the primary photographer of Mary Pickford, Gertrude McCoy, Maude Fealy, Valeska Suratt, & Violet Mersereau

Photographer: Rufus Moody
Signed: Signed "Andy"
Dated: Circa 1913
Medium: Gelatin Silver Print
Demensions: 10 x 7"
Country/Origin: US
Notes & Literature: A native of Kentucky, R.P. Moody developed a love of photography in his twenties and became a successful amateur during the first decade of the 20th century while working as a picture framer on 5th Avenue in Nashville, Tennesse. In 1908, on the advice of friends, he established a portrait gallery, the Rock City Art Studio, a venture that proved sufficiently successful to bankroll a move to New York City in 1913. He announced his intention in the photographic press to concentrate exclusively on theatrical photography. He established his first studio at 243 W. 42nd Street, investing in the latest high intensity spot lamps with a flash mechanism and began working. A reporter observed in 1915, Moody "has devised a light controlled by electricity that gives him an absolutely instantaneous illumination, so bright that a picture can be taken in a hundredth part of a second or less . . . The electric button in his hand gives him his picture at any instant he may choose." Moody thought exposure speed was the key to capturing expression, and so marked a development beyond Benjamin J. Falk, the first proponent of the instantaneous capture of personality in stage portraiture. Unlike his competitors in New York City, Frank Geisler and Ira L. Hill, Moody eschewed backgrounds, making lighting the chief determinant of an image's effect. While particular repute lay in being identified as a theatrical photographer, Moody, like Frank Puffer, cultivated motion picture performers as well, particularly New York studio based ingénues. His dramatic shades and intense light gave a modeled look to faces. Cheeks and chins became his specialty, and he retouched the flesh to make the cheeks perfectly smooth—an effect that drew clients to his studio. Mary Pickford visited in 1915 sitting for one of the most famous portraits of her career, one of the few images that Moody copyrighted. Most of his production was work for hire, providing performers or studios with publicity portraits. Within a year of moving to New York, in late April 1914, R.P. Moody’s wife of two years, Octavia Whetstone Moody, left him to live with her parents in Philadelphia. In the ensuing months, Moody sued the parents for alienation of affections, a charge Octavia denied vehemently in the press, arguing instead that R.P.’s possessive and dictatorial behavior drove her away: "I was compelled to remain in the apartment, forbidden to read poetry and good literature, and was forced to study arithmetic and books in the elementary grade. My husband acted as the instructor and said these books were of greater importance to develop my mind than reading fiction. I was forced to do my own housework and then aid with the photography. But when a fat woman, a rope walk, who used to go around in tights, to whom my husband rented a room, was continually in his company, I objected." A divorce was granted in 1916. After the divorce he moved the studio to 1529 Broadway. Though he remained a performing arts photographer until his death at age 49 in 1922, the fashion for Moody's photographs declined after 1917 when a younger generation of artful photographers captured the eyes of the national magazine editors.
Condition Report Small stain top left corner. Very good.
Subject References: Bulletin of Photography 12 (1913), 760. "Husband Barred Poetry, Made Her Study Arithmetic, Wife Charges," Washington Post (Jun 13, 1915), 3. "Teaching the Camera to Make You Beautiful," Cleveland Plain Dealer (Oct 10, 1915), 72. David S. Shields/ALS

Artist or Maker

Condition Report

Any description and/or condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Orange County Estate Liquidators shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging.Unless otherwise stated, all artwork sold by Orange County Estate Liquidators is assumed to be "after", "school of", "manner of" or "circle of" and will carry no warranties or guarantees as to authorship or authenticity whether stated or implied by other parts of this agreement or description. Ignorance of terms by buyer (s) is no excuse to bring action against the auction house or consignor.

Payment & Shipping

Payment

Accepted forms of payment: Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Shipping
Shippers & Shipping Important information regarding shipping:

At our option, we do provide in-house shipping on most items. We reserve the right to not ship any lot.

1. There is a minimum charge of $20 per lot for book & jewelry lot(s) and $25.00 for all other items. This is for processing and packing. Some item may be considerable more. Postage is added to this standard charge. If possible, we will certainly combine items at our desecration. Books & Prints are normally charged only $5 for each additional lot after the first lot purchased. Weight may effect this option.

2. Most lots are shipped via USPS mail and we make every effort to get your items to you quickly and safely. Most items are insured but this is our option. (Some foreign orders cannot be insured). We are not responsible for damage in shipment or non-receipt of items. If your order was insured, it is your responsibility to file a claim with the appropriate shipper. We will provide the insurance information upon request. All inquiries for damage or non-receipt information and/or tracking numbers must be made within 60 days of the end of the auction.

3. Foreign Orders (Outside the US) are your responsibility. We assume no liability for any item(s) lost or damaged in shipment.

4. You may pick up items at no cost to you. Please contact us prior to pickup to set up a appointment.

5. You are responsible for providing your correct mailing address. Unless notified otherwise, we will ship to the address you have on record with Live Auctioneers. We are not responsible for shipments lost due to incorrect addresses listed on Live Auctioneers by bidders.

6. All outside shipping arrangements and payments for shipping and any other related fees must be made directly with your shipper. Buyer must provide Orange County Estate Liquidators with signed authorization for release of the property that states your name, sale date, lot number and choice of carrier.

7. We are not a storage facility. There is a charge of $25.00 per lot per week for all items that are won and not paid for within 7 days of the auction date.

8. By registering to participate & bid, you are agreeing to the conditions listed above. If you have any questions, please contact us prior to bidding.

Auction Details

Estate Art Antques Books & Prints For Christmas

by
Orange County Estate Liquidators
November 30, 2019, 11:00 AM EST

PO Box 21, Otisville, NY, 10963, US

Terms

Buyer's Premium

25.0%

Bidding Increments

From:To:Increment:
$0$29$5
$30$99$10
$100$299$25
$300$999$50
$1,000$2,499$100
$2,500$4,999$250
$5,000$9,999$500
$10,000$24,999$1,000
$25,000$99,999$2,500
$100,000+$10,000

Terms & Conditions

Terms & Conditions for Live Auctioneers Bidders

1. These Terms and Conditions are applicable to those buyers who wish to bid or have bid with us through Invaluable.com.

2. The Lots listed in this auction through Invaluable.com will be offered by Orange County Estate Liquidators LLC ("Auctioneer" or the "Company") as agent for consignor(s) or owner.

3. All the Property offered and sold through the Company shall be offered and sold under the Terms and Conditions set forth herein. By participating in any auction at the Company, you acknowledge that you accept and are bound by these Terms and Conditions, any of which may be modified or waived at the sole discretion of the Company.

4. Orange County Estate Liquidators advises all prospective buyers to examine in person all lots they are interested in before the auction. All Property (Lots) are sold "As Is" and without recourse, and neither Auctioneer, the Company nor its consignor(s) make any warranties or representations of any kind with respect to any of the Property (Lots) to be sold at auction, including, without limitation, with respect to warranty of title, warranty of merchant-ability, fitness for a particular purpose, or any other warranty or representation of any kind in reference to the Property. Neither the Company nor its consignor(s) shall be responsible for the correctness, authenticity, provenance, attribution, condition or any other terms used to describe the Property; and furthermore, neither Auctioneer nor its consignor(s) shall be deemed to have made any representation or warranty, in any advertisement, or in any statement by anyone or which is made at the sale, in the bill of sale, invoice, or elsewhere, nor shall any of the foregoing be deemed an assumption of liability. The absence of any reference to the condition of a lot does not imply that the lot is free of imperfections or the effects of aging NO Guarantee's are made regarding any Art Work listed in this catalog. Any names listed are only stating that the name may be on the art work or in the style of the artist. We do not in any manner guarantee that the art has been done by the artist listed. Make your own decision before you bid. It is strongly recommended you request a condition report prior to placing any bid. No condition reports will be available 24 hours prior to the auction start.

5. All prospective buyers must register and provide identification before bidding. We may require bank or other financial references. The Company reserves the right to refuse participation in any auction at any time at the Company's sole discretion

6. Invaluable.com registered bidders agree to accept personal responsibility for paying the total purchase price, which includes the Hammer Price plus a 25% buyer's premium and all applicable taxes. If a buyer (i.e. a third party) would like to appoint an agent to bid on their behalf it must be agreed in writing by the Company before the start of an auction, and Orange County Estate Liquidators will look to the aforementioned third party for payment. Visa, Mastercard Credit Card payments are charged an additional 3% processing fee. Winning Bidders credit cards may be automatically charged 4 days after an invoice has been sent. By bidding you fully agree to this charge and affirm that you will not dispute this charge in any manner.

7. The Company will accept any pre-sale ("Absentee") bids left in writing prior to the commencement of the Sale, however, the Company is not responsible for failing to execute such bids, or for any errors or omissions in connection with such bids. If an Item or Lot receives written bids for identical amounts, and they are the highest bids, the Item or Lot will be sold to the buyer whose written bid was received and accepted first. The Company's copy of and records regarding receipt and acceptance of any Absentee bid shall be deemed sole evidence and conclusive. The Company may pass any lot that has bids if the bids have not met the reserve price.

8. Some Lots in the Sale may be subject to a confidential reserve below which the Lot will not be sold. The Auctioneer may open the bidding on any Lot below the reserve by placing a bid on behalf of the consignor and may continue to bid on behalf of the consignor up to the amount of the reserve. This may be done by placing consecutive bids or by placing bids in response to other bidders.

9. If any Lot is offered without reserve, unless there are already competing bids, the Auctioneer, may open the bidding at half the low estimate. If a bid is not offered at that level, the Auctioneer may proceed backwards until a bid is offered, and then continue up from that initial bid at increased increments.

10. The Company reserves the right to withdraw any Property at any time before the hammer falls at its complete discretion, and shall have no liability whatsoever for such withdrawal.

11. The Company reserves the right to reject any bid. The highest bidder acknowledged by the Auctioneer will be the buyer. In the event of any dispute between bidders, the Auctioneer shall have absolute and final discretion either to determine the successful bidder, or to re-offer and re-sell the Property in dispute. If any dispute arises after a sale, the Company's sale record shall be conclusive and final.

12. The Auctioneer's decision to refuse any bid, advance the bidding in any manner, withdraw a Lot, determine a successful bidder, continue the bidding, to cancel a sale and re-offer and resell an item in dispute, is conclusive, absolute and final.

13. Title of the property immediately passes to the highest acknowledged bidder when the Auctioneer's hammer falls, subject to the Terms and Conditions set forth herein, at which point the bidder assumes full risk and responsibility for the Property. The buyer shall pay the full purchase price within five days, which includes Hammer price, together with the 25% buyers' premium, plus any applicable fees & taxes. Payment shall be made in US dollars by credit cards accepted by the Company, cashier's or certified check, cash or bank wire transfer ($30.00 Fee). Payment will not be considered complete until funds are cleared. Credit Card orders will require a signed authorization to charge said card prior to release of property. No Property will be released to the buyer until payment has been made in full. If payment is made by check the Company reserves the right to hold Property purchased until funds have cleared the bank. Buyer agrees to pay the Company a handling charge of $50 for any check dishonored by the drawee.

14. The Buyer will pay for and remove all purchased Property at their own expense within five (5) days of the date of sale, and if not removed, the Property may be sold by the Company, or removed by the Company to a public warehouse or storage facility, at the sole risk, responsibility and expense of the buyer. The Company will not be responsible for any loss, theft, or damage to any Property remaining on the Company's premises after the sale. Any items purchased & paid for that are not picked up and stored on the Company's premises after 30 days without prior authorization of the the Company will be defaulted to the ownership of the Company without recourse of the buyer in any form.

15. Any lot (item) returned as undelivered or as refused will be held for a period of 30 days only. If the bidder does not contact us to claim such items, the items/lots will become abandoned and will become the property of Orange County Estate Liquidators. No refund or payment will be due to the buyer.

16. If the buyer fails to pay in full with good cleared funds, or fails to comply with the Terms and Conditions of the Sale as set forth herein, the Company reserves the right to exercise one or more of the following remedies, in addition to any other remedies available to the Company by law including but not limited to: a) Report the default buyer to a National Credit rating agency with a claim which will include all expenses of collection, legal fees, storage fees, interest and any and all additional costs incurred. b) hold the defaulting buyer liable for the full purchase amount due; c) charge interest at a rate the Company decides upon within reason; d) cancel the sale; e) resell the property without reserve at public auction, or privately under such terms as Company deems appropriate. In addition, the defaulting buyer will be responsible for any costs incurred by the Company including, but not limited to, handling, storage, commissions, insurance, administration, any and all legal fees, incidental damages and all costs relating to this transaction; and f) Forbid the buyer from participating in any future auction. g) Charge $25.00 per lot per week to the buyer for storage of their items.

17. The Company can provide a successful bidder with a list of shippers if required. However, the Company will not be responsible for the acts or omissions of carriers or packers engaged by the buyer whether or not such shipper was listed by the Company. Property will not be released to a third party shipper without the buyer's consent, and unless the Company is in receipt of full payment. Any packing and handling by the Company is at the entire risk of the buyer and the Company bears no liability for any loss or damage to such items. Any costs of packing and shipping completed by Orange County Estate Liquidators will be charged by separate invoice and no items will be released until said charges have cleared any related banking or monetary processes. The cost of shipment will be Buyer's full responsibility.

18. If a purchased Lot, for any reason, cannot be delivered in the same condition as at the time of sale, or should any purchased Lot be stolen, miss delivered or lost prior to delivery, the Company shall not be liable for any loss. Delivery is completed and is defined as transfer of purchased items to the United States Parcel Service, United Parcel Service, agent of the buyer and/or authorized shipper of the buyer.

19. The conduct of the auction and all transactions associated with it, the Terms and Conditions herein set forth, together with the rights and obligations of the Company, Consignor and Buyer are governed by the laws under the jurisprudence of the State of New York. If any part of these Terms and Conditions is found by an New York court to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that part will be discounted and the rest of the Terms and Conditions will continue to be valid to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Shipping Terms

Shipping
Shippers & Shipping Important information regarding shipping:

At our option, we do provide in-house shipping on most items. We reserve the right to not ship any lot.

1. There is a minimum charge of $20 per lot for book & jewelry lot(s) and $25.00 for all other items. This is for processing and packing. Some item may be considerable more. Postage is added to this standard charge. If possible, we will certainly combine items at our desecration. Books & Prints are normally charged only $5 for each additional lot after the first lot purchased. Weight may effect this option.

2. Most lots are shipped via USPS mail and we make every effort to get your items to you quickly and safely. Most items are insured but this is our option. (Some foreign orders cannot be insured). We are not responsible for damage in shipment or non-receipt of items. If your order was insured, it is your responsibility to file a claim with the appropriate shipper. We will provide the insurance information upon request. All inquiries for damage or non-receipt information and/or tracking numbers must be made within 60 days of the end of the auction.

3. Foreign Orders (Outside the US) are your responsibility. We assume no liability for any item(s) lost or damaged in shipment.

4. You may pick up items at no cost to you. Please contact us prior to pickup to set up a appointment.

5. You are responsible for providing your correct mailing address. Unless notified otherwise, we will ship to the address you have on record with Live Auctioneers. We are not responsible for shipments lost due to incorrect addresses listed on Live Auctioneers by bidders.

6. All outside shipping arrangements and payments for shipping and any other related fees must be made directly with your shipper. Buyer must provide Orange County Estate Liquidators with signed authorization for release of the property that states your name, sale date, lot number and choice of carrier.

7. We are not a storage facility. There is a charge of $25.00 per lot per week for all items that are won and not paid for within 7 days of the auction date.

8. By registering to participate & bid, you are agreeing to the conditions listed above. If you have any questions, please contact us prior to bidding.