July Gallery Auction
Lot 29147:
Description
A pair of mid-20th-century string-bound photograph albums documenting the personal and social life of an American family, primarily located in Ohio. The collection consists of two albums with red textured covers. One album features a gold-stamped title Photograph Album in cursive on the front cover, while the second album is decorated with a repeating gold-stamped fleur-de-lis pattern. The interiors contain black cardstock pages with numerous black-and-white silver gelatin prints secured by paper corner mounts. Many photographs include handwritten captions in blue or white ink identifying subjects and dates.
Subjects frequently identified include Len, Roszella, Jimmie, Violet, and Mrs. Hopkins. Notable historical and social documentation includes:
– Military service records featuring several portraits and candid shots of a U.S. Army Corporal wearing a Fifth Army shoulder sleeve insignia.
– Youth recreation photos at Camp Willson, a YMCA camp in Bellefontaine, Ohio, with group shots in front of Pettigrew Hall dated 1948 and 1949.
– Musical group performances featuring individuals playing banjos, guitars, and fiddles.
– Everyday vernacular scenes including fishing trips with children, beach and swimming outings, and residential streetscapes featuring mid-century American automobiles.
– Early childhood photos of Roszella and Jimmie dating back to 1938 and 1940.
– One photograph margin is stamped with the date JUL 56. Pickup is Friday, July 31, from Noon to 7 pm at our facility in Lancaster, OH. Alternate pickup day is available by appointment for a $5 fee per lot or we will provide in-house shipping for this item. If shipping – once packed up we will send you a separate invoice for shipping & handling. Shipping questions: [email protected]. Sales tax collected on this auction. Our warehouse is in Lancaster, OH. If not shipping – pickup in 10 days or we will dispose and you will not receive a refund. AB352
Condition report:
The album covers exhibit moderate shelf wear, edge rubbing, and minor scuffing consistent with age and use. The internal black cardstock pages are generally well-preserved with light wear to the edges. Most photographs remain securely attached to the pages. Visible age-related conditions to the prints include minor silvering, light fading, and occasional surface foxing. The collection remains a structurally sound record of the period.
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