Rare c.1856 J. Ruth California San Francisco and Marysville Early Photographer

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Rare c.1856 J. Ruth California San Francisco and Marysville Early Photographer:
$450.00

“Images by Ruth are exceedingly rare.” - Pioneer Photographers of the Far West

[Cased photograph]

J. Ruth

Half-length portraitof a man with beard and a large bow-tie.

(c. 1856)

Sixth-plate (3.25 x 2.75 inches) ambrotype by J. Ruth of Marysville, California. Marysville was known as \'TheGateway to the Gold Rush’. This portrait is of a youngish looking man with piercingeyes and a beard, wearing a dark frock coat and vest with a large bow tie. The ambrotype is in a double clasped leatherbound case. The case’s blue velvet pad is imprinted “J. Ruth’s Gallery / D Streetnear Third /Marysville CAL”. The only examples of J. Ruthimages I can find held by a library or institution, are at the Beinecke Library at Yale, in the Peter Palmquist Collection of Photographers in the American West.

About J. Ruth from PioneerPhotographers of the Far West: a BiographicalDictionary 1840- 1865 by Peter E Palmquist, Thomas R. Kailbourn:

“J. Ruth worked in SanFrancisco in the daguerreian profession before October1853. By the twenty-ninth of that monthhe had established a daguerreotype gallery in the St. Charles Hotel, Shasta City, California. He offered “Daguerreotypes in every varietyof style….\" By 1855 he was operating in rooms on the east side of D street between First and Second Streets, second floor, Maryville California. ..In August 1856, Ruth announced that he had a “New Gallery” on D Street, oppositeHaun House, in the same town. That year he offered ambrotypes and daguerreotypes; in 1857 headded photographs and boasted that he possessed “the best arranged light in the State.”....Ruth entered an exhibit featuring three photographs, threechromotypes, and four melainotypes in the 1858 California State Fair. He won gold medals for best photograph andbest melainotype, as well as a special diploma for his “ornotype” (orotype?), whichthe judges applauded as “an improvement in the relief given to the figure inthe picture.”

It appears that J. Ruth’s career may have ended around 1859 (perhaps this explains the scarcity of his work).

Condition: The image surface is in as-found condition with some dust particles, small fibers, some minor imperfections,and two short scrapes upper left near the brass mat edge (please see photos). The cover glass has beencleaned somewhat. While removed from the case, it was noted that the ambrotypewas found not sealed, and that there is typical spiderweb shrinkage to the black paint on the backof the plate. The case itself has age and wear and has notbeen conserved. The hinge is separated. While a hinge repair isstraightforward, no repair has been made to leave all conservation options open.Overall, an extremely rare image from a noted early California photographer. The subject may have been a resident of Marysville, or vicinity, during its gold rushyears, and his identity might eventually become known with further research.

If this ambrotype by early California photographer, J. Ruth of Marysville,fits your collecting interests, please consider securing this item before it isgone.

Thank you, and have a great day!

Please see my other listings for another ambrotype, and some daguerrotypesfrom this estate.

U.S.Shipping:

This item will be shipped in a well cushioned and highly protective box with tracking, and signature confirmation (so it is not left onyour doorstep unsecured) and insurance. handling time is up to 5 business days (once per week shipping)

Returns:

I accept returns in original condition within 14 days. So, after receiving the item, if you are notsatisfied, you can return the item, in its original condition, with a fullrefund issued after I physically receive the returned item. The item must be return shipped inprotective packaging with insurance and tracking. No partial refunds, and nopartial returns. Thank you.