New England Auctions
Live Auction

Fraternal, Early Photography, and Advertising

Thu, Sep 11, 2025 10:00AM EDT
  2025-09-11 10:00:00 2025-09-11 10:00:00 America/New_York New England Auctions New England Auctions : Fraternal, Early Photography, and Advertising https://auctions.neauction.com/auctions/new-haven-auctions/fraternal-early-photography-and-advertising-16025
A single day, three-part sale with Fraternal antiques including the contents of a Masonic lodge, early photography, and advertising. Curated by our in-house specialist in early photography and advertising, Mark Surowiecki.
New England Auctions info@newenglandauctions.com
Lot 128

Two Postmortem Images of Children

Estimate: $500 - $800
Starting Bid
$100

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $25
$300 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $200
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000
$1,000,000 $50,000

Two finely composed postmortem images of young girls. First, a 1/6 plate horizontal daguerreotype of a young girl, perhaps just recently deceased, as her eyes are barely open. She holds a small clutch of hand-tinted flowers on her abdomen. Under glass, pebbled mat, and preserver; housed in a full leatherette case with repaired spine. The lid of the case displays a single gilded lyre. Together with a 1/6 plate ambrotype of a postmortem young girl laying on a floral-upholstered couch. Behind the image is an embossed paper advert for 'A. W. Judson, Photographic Artist. Milford, Mass.' This image does not have cover glass, but is under mat and preserver; housed in a full case with unrepaired but split spine. circa 1850-60. 

Case: H 3-3/4 in. W 3-1/4 in.

Mat Opening: H 2-1/4 in. W 2-3/4 in.Link to high-res images: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/irv2k9f5h473h95xdb2vu/AJmJAbTlxqJu-ClXkFuKAGY?rlkey=ej2jrea17ve165hmaiclurhja&st=9734i1xb&dl=0

Condition

Daguerreotype is in undisturbed condition. Ambrotype has light spotting on the plate only visible from one angle.

Available payment options

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Amex
  • Diners
  • Discover
  • JCB
  • Union Pay

Arrangement and costs of shipping are the responsibility of the buyer. 
New England Auctions does not ship or arrange shipping. 
All shipping is outsourced. All buyers and shippers must come prepared with appropriate packing materials and help for heavy items.  Our staff will not be available to help move heavy items. If payment is made by check, items will be held 7 business days before an item is released for shipping.   
Items can be picked up in person or by a shipper at 14 Business Park Drive - Unit 5, Branford, CT - BY CONFIRMED APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please contact the gallery 24 hours in advance to make an appointment. Pickup can be scheduled for Monday through Friday between 9am - 3pm beginning the Monday after the date of the auction. Please note that all first-time buyers that wish to pick items up in person must pay with cash. 

A list of local shippers includes: 
The Village Express, Branford, CT 203-481-7426 or (vexpress@comcast.net),    Attn: Kristen
The UPS Store #5105 at 203-772-4445 or (store5105@theupsstore..com), Attn: Manjit.  
The UPS Store #2233, Wallingford, CT at 203-949-0050 or (store2233@theupsstore.com), Attn: Jim or Adam.

Couriers (for licensed transport across state lines):
Outward Bound Courier Logistics, Dalton, MA at 413-854-3676, Attn: Alan or Ben.
GNLE Delivery, Stockton, NJ at 908-256-3947, Attn: Kieran Giannelli
 
For fine art, furniture, and shippers that crate:
Maquette FAS CT, Branford, CT at 203-640-8453, Attn: Kevin
Plycon Transportation Group 631-269-7000
Codogan Tate 718-689-7969
US ART 718-986-6500

All purchases must be picked up from our location within 14 days, no exceptions. Purchased items that have been paid for but not picked up or shipped from our auction facility within 14 days of the auction will be stored at a rate of $10 per day per lot for furniture and larger items and $5 per day per lot for smaller items. A moving fee of $25 going into storage and $25 going out of storage will be added. Storage fees and late fees must be paid before items are released. There are no exceptions.

 


Items not picked up within 60 days of the auction date will be considered in default and become the property of New England Auctions.

 

03/2024