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Quarter Plate

$950.00

Out of stock

SKU: D16-108 Category:

“EPHRAM ROBERTS . . . Bound boy – brought up by Gt. grandfather J. Afterwards went to Williams & missionary to Micronesia”! The information was penned on a small scrap of paper that is kept in an archival sleeve underneath the gent?s fine resealed quarter plate likeness, inside a case that has a detached cover. Roberts was born in 1825 apparently in Dorset VT. He graduated Williams College (in Mass) 1854 and then from Bangor Seminary (in Maine) 1857. I suspect that his holographic portrait was taken about the time of his graduation from Williams when Ephram would have been 29 years old. His clear intense blue eyes studied the camera operator, who placed his countenance on a perfectly polished silver mirror that has unbelievable luminescence. Hints of color were painted on his freckled cheeks. Upon leaving Bangor, Roberts married and with his bride sailed to Pohnpei. The first two of nine children were born there. When the family returned to the US in 1861 they settled in Salmon Oregon. He was a farmer and ?at home? missionary. He died Feb. 6 1893. Naturally you all are wondering what a ?bound boy? meant. My dear friend and admirer of fine daguerreotypes, Richard Majka, favored me with this short article on the subject:
http://www.genealogytoday.com/columns/everyday/040508.html
This is an absolutely spectacular daguerreian effort folks, with an interesting slice of history.