WESTERN AMERICANA | Photography | Cowboys
381 Albumen Photograph of Cowboys at the Waterfall Ranch, Plus Thimble Rock Lot of 2, including 8.75 x 11 in. albumen print, on 13 x 15 in. mount with the inked title Waterfall Ranch. No photographer’s credit (though an inscription starting “He” was originally at lower right before being chipped off ) and we could not find any other references to
this “Waterfall Ranch.” Nonetheless, a fine photograph of several cowboys, a carriage, and a man, wife, and child posed in front of a ranch, with the waterfall pouring down the mountain in the background at right. Also included is an 8.75 x 11 in. albumen print on 11.25 x 14.25 in. mount with the inked title “Thimble Rock” 2 miles from house 800 ft. high. $500 - $700
382 Charles J. Belden Photograph of a Cowboy on Horseback Silver gelatin press photograph, 8 x 10 in., with Charles J. Belden, Z/T Ranch Pitchfork, Wyoming handstamp on verso as well as a partially printed, applied paper Purina Photo File label, with inked date, picture number, title, and description. A striking view of a cowboy on horseback dated 1936. Charles J. Belden (1888-1963) was born in San Francisco into a wealthy California family. He developed a life-long passion for photography when he purchased his first camera to record his travels throughout Germany and Russia after graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1909. Upon his return to the U.S., Belden worked as a cowboy on the L.G. Phelps Ranch in Wyoming. He then went to work on and eventually managed the legendary Pitchfork Ranch near Meeteetse, Wyoming. During his time at the Pitchfork Ranch between the 1920s and 1930s, Belden produced a variety of images that captured life on the dude ranch, including livestock activities, as well as the surrounding western landscape. Many of his western photographs were taken on horseback aboard his reliable pony Pinky. He thought this gave him the desired perspective he was hoping to achieve. Belden’s photographs were featured in various publications, including National Geographic and the Saturday Evening Post. Refer to the University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center’s Digital Collection of Charles J. Belden Photography for comparable examples of his work. $500 - $700
SEE DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS, ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS AND CONDITION REPORTS OF ALL LOTS AT COWANS.COM
JUNE 12, 2015 CINCINNATI, OHIO
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