FIRE!
FIRE!
FIRE! PHOTOGRAPHS OF FIRES AND FIREMEN 1850–1930 Rare Photo Gallery
FIRE! R are P hoto G allery is pleased to present its newest catalogue of vintage photographs, FIRE! Photographs of Fires and Firemen, 1850–1930. Among its pages you will see presented an array of photographs related to the immeasurably destructive and beautiful force that is fire. As soon as photographers were mobile, they took to the streets, in an attempt to document the epic events occurring around them in the raw setting of the industrializing world. With the rapid development and expansion of industrial plants and processes—as well as the precariousness of early electrical systems in wood-framed buildings and houses—the need for both firefighters and photographers grew. The latter felt the pressing urge, as well as the professional call (on behalf of business owners and government agencies with legal liability), to document the conditions and accidents related to the rapid industrialization of life and the increasing dependence on technology around the turn of the 19th century. They used their cameras to document not only catastrophes, however, but also to record the faces and honour the selfless courage of those who
would throw themselves into the fire, quite literally, to save the lives of others. Many of these men were volunteers, as illustrated in a number of the portraits presented here. Also documented in photographs were the tools of the trade of firefighting, showing again how technology was developing on all fronts, including disaster-response and rescue. No doubt early photographers of accidental fires were aware of the aesthetic beauty of the overwhelming and mostly un-tamable hand of nature, and of its tragic aftermath, before their lenses. They framed the chaos as best they could, often under grueling conditions, to respectfully and humbly convey the utter power and devastation of fire, and to try to help the development of better preventative measures for the future. The selection presented here features photographs of such notable events as the Great Toronto Fire of 1904, but only touches upon a deep and important history, ripe for research. With that, please enjoy, and perhaps begin your research among these pages.
rare photo gallery toronto ,
2016
HAND-TINTED PORTRAIT OF A FIREMAN Unknown photographer c.1850 hand-tinted sixth-plate daguerreotype in leatherbound case case: 3 ¾ x 3 ¼ in. (9.5 x 8.2 cm); plate: 3 ¼ x 2 ¾ in. (8.2 x 7 cm)
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PHOTOGRAPH CASE: THE FIREMAN'S DUTY Littlefield, Parsons and Company, Florence, Massachusetts (1856–1866) c.1857 empty sixth-plate thermoplastic case case: 3 ¾ x 3 ¼ in. (9.5 x 8.2 cm) Case: The Fireman's Duty. Berg 1-97; Krainik 117.
FIREMAN AND HIS SISTER Unknown photographer c.1860 two sixth-plate tintypes in thermoplastic case case: 3 ¾ x 3 ¼ in. (9.5 x 8.2 cm); plates: 3 ¼ x 2 ¾ in. (8.2 x 7 cm) Case: The Fireman's Duty. Berg 1-96; Krainik 118.
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GREAT FIRE AT HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA Daniel J. Smith c.1850 hand-tinted quarter-plate daguerreotype in leatherbound case case: 3 ⅝ x 4 ⅝ x ¾ in. (9.2 cm x 11.7 x 1.9 cm); plate: 3 ¼ x 4 ¼ in. (8.2 x 10.8 cm) Possibly earliest Canadian daguerreotype depicting a fire; reproduction from a painting
ETOBICOKE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT Unknown photographer c.1870 hand-tinted quarter-plate tintype in leatherbound case with silk liner case: 3 ⅝ x 4 ⅝ x ¾ in. (9.2 cm x 11.7 x 1.9 cm); plate: 3 ¼ x 4 ¼ in. (8.2 x 10.8 cm) *Bought as "Etobicoke Fire Department." Hand-tinted group portrait of sixteen firemen and a dog. Likely the only extant image of this fire department.
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PORTRAIT OF A FIREMAN, HAT IN HAND; NO. 3 COMPANY Unknown photographer c.1870 tintype, hand-tinted 3 ¾ x 2 ¼ in. (9.5 x 5.7 cm) Found in Wayland, N.Y.
PORTRAIT OF A FIREMAN AND A CIVILIAN Unknown photographer c.1870 tintype 3 ½ x 2 ½ in. (8.9 x 6.3 cm)
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PORTRAIT OF A FIREMAN – IIC[?] Randall Gallery, East Saginaw c.1865 tintype, hand-tinted 3 ⅛ x 2 in. (7.9 x 5.1 cm)
PORTRAIT OF A FIREMAN – NO. 2 RESCUE Unknown photographer c.1865 tintype, hand-tinted 3 ¾ x 2 ½ in. (9.5 x 6.3 cm)
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PORTRAIT OF A C.F.B. FIREMAN Unknown photographer c.1870 half-plate tintype, period-matted, oak frame with elaborately carved gilt wood plate: 5 ⅝ x 4 ⅛ in. (14.3 x 10.5 cm); frame: 16 x 14 in (40.6 x 35.5 cm)
WHOLE PLATE AMBROTYPE PORTRAIT OF A FIREMAN Mathew B. Brady (1823–1896) c.1854 hand-tinted whole plate ambrotype with brass mat and preserver overall: 8 ½ x 6 ½ in. (21.6 x 16.5 cm) Whole plate ambrotype portrait of a fireman in civilian clothes, wearing a “2” pin on his tie. Brass mat bears Brady’s imprint: Cutting’s Patent / BRADY / July 4 & 11, 1854.
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HORSE-DRAWN FIRE ENGINE Unknown photographer c.1900 gelatin silver print, mounted and framed print: 4 ½ x 6 ⅜ in. (11.4 x 16.2 cm); frame: 7 ⅝ x 9 ⅝ in. (19.4 x 24.4 cm)
KENORA FIRE DEPARTMENT George E. Whiten (Kenora, Ont.) c. 1900 gelatin silver print, double-mounted and framed print: 7 ⅜ x 9 ¼ (18.7 x 23.5 cm); frame: 13 ½ x 15 ½ in (34.3 x 39.4 cm) View of Kenora fire company lined up with horse-drawn fire engines, in front of fire station
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FIRE COMPANY WITH ENGINE, ST. CATHARINES, ON Y. T. See c.1880 albumen print 6 ¼ x 8 ¼ in. (15.9 x 20.9 cm) Group portrait; 24 men and the ghost of a dog standing in the street with fire engine.
Inscription (verso): Volunteer Fire Department.
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, LETHBRIDGE Unknown photographer c.1900 gelatin silver print 6 x 7 â…ž in. (15.2 x 20 cm) Group portrait; 16 men with fire engine.
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left: interior spread; upper right: recto; lower right: verso
THE “LITTLE GIANT” FIRE ENGINE – PRINT FLYER Ontario Wind Engine and Pump Co., Limited c.1914 printed large-format pamphlet/advertisement folded: 11 x 7 ½ in (27.9 x 19 cm)
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NO. 2 COMPANY AT STATION, WITH MOTORIZED ENGINES Unknown photographer (Montreal) c.1930 gelatin silver print 8 x 10 in. (20.3 x 25.4 cm) No. 2 Company (nine firemen), Montreal, with motorized fire engines.
AN AGITATOR O N FIR E Unknown photographer c.1900 gelatin silver print print: 9 ½ x 7 ½ in. (24.1 x 19 cm); mount: 9 ⅞ x 7 ⅞ (25.1 x 20 cm)
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upper - left two and upper - right two portraits :
bottom row
rank Saiter – Kenton, Ohio, June 20/72[?], Time 37 ¼ sec., Frank R. Saiter F Guy Webber – Bucyrus, Ohio, Aug. 20/72, Time 35 ½ sec., Guy Webber T. C. Bowen – Crestline, Ohio, Aug. 26/73, Time 35 ½ sec., T. C. Bowen WM. Hazen – Galion, Ohio, Sept. 11/73, Time 35 ¾ sec., Wm P. Hazen
Milton Naylor Dick Rauley Henry Snyder Charles Terpeny Ethan Allen
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(l
to r ) :
MONTAGE – FIRE RACES, BEST TIMES Unknown photographer, American (Ohio) c. 1872–1873 albumen prints mounted to card, with printed adhered labels mount: 12 ¼ x 13 in. (31.1 x 33 cm); portraits: 3 ½ x 2 in. (8.9 x 5 cm); oval: 5 ½ x 7 ½ in. (14 x 19 cm) Montage with nine individual portraits and one oval-cut group portrait; four of the individual portraits show men displaying chalkboards with date, time and name (see transcriptions above). Bottom row of men wear theatrical-styled costumes. Hook and ladder races.
EX CHIEF, F.D., CLIFTON Unknown photographer c.1880 albumen print; mounted print: 8 ¾ x 7 ¼ in. (22.2 x 18.4 cm); mount: 13 ¾ x 10 ¾ in. (33.6 x 26 cm) Portrait of the ex-Chief of the Clifton Fire Department.
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FIRE COMPANY NO. 1 OUTSIDE OF FIRE STATION Unknown photographer c.1880 albumen print, mounted and matted print: 7 x 9 in. (17.8 x 22.8 cm); mount: 11 x 13 ¼ in. (27.9 x 33.6 cm); mat: 12 x 13 ¾ in. (30.5 x 34.9 cm) [Two prints sold together of the Clifton Ladder Company, from the Harry Oakes Estate]
FIRE COMPANY NO. 1 OUTDOORS WITH FIRE ENGINE Unknown photographer c.1880 albumen print, mounted and matted print: 7 x 9 in. (17.8 x 22.8 cm); mount: 11 x 13 ¼ in. (27.9 x 33.6 cm); mat: 12 x 13 ¾ in. (30.5 x 34.9 cm)
verso detail
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FIRE COMPANY, WITH CLIMBING POLES AND ROPE Elmer Chickering, 21 West Street, Boston, Mass. c.1890 albumen print, mounted to board; photographer’s imprint on verso print: 10 ½ x 14 in. (26.7 x 35.6 cm); mount: 11 ¾ x 17 in. (29.8 x 43.2 cm)
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FACTORY FIRE AFTERMATH Unknown photographer c.1910 four gelatin silver prints, mounted mounts: 8 x 10 in. (20.3 x 25.4 cm); prints: 4 ¾ x 6 ¾ in. (12 x 17.1 cm)
RUBBLE AFTER A FIRE [NORFOLK, VA] Unknown photographer c.1901 gelatin silver print approx. 5 x 7 in. (12.7 x 17.8 cm) Note figure in motion in foreground at right.
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PANORAMIC VIEW OF APPROACHING FOREST FIRE Unknown photographer c.1930 gelatin silver print 6 ¼ x 10 ¾ in. (15.9 x 27.3 cm)
FROZEN AFTERMATH OF A FIRE EXTINGUISHED Unknown photographer c.1920 gelatin silver print 6 ¼ x 8 ¼ in. (17.1 x 22.2 cm) Likely Montreal
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Inscription (verso): The morning after the fire. Crowd near the Queen’s Hotel Front st. West.
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THE MORNING AFTER THE FIRE [Att. A.A. Martin] c. April 19, 1904 gelatin silver print, mounted mount: 5 ⅝⅞ x 6 ⅞ in (14.3 x 17.5 cm); image: 3 ⅞ x 5 ½ in (9.8 x 14 cm) The Great Toronto Fire, April 19, 1904.
Inscription (verso): Looking west on Front st near cor Yonge st from top of high building 2 days after the fire. All smoke and steam.
LOOKING WEST ON FRONT ST NEAR COR[NER OF] YONGE ST A.A. Martin c. April 19, 1904 gelatin silver print, mounted mount: 12 x 14 ½ in (30.5 x 36.8 cm); print: 8 x 9 ⅝ in (20.3 x 24.4 cm) Marks (recto): [printed in image] A·A·Martin / East Toronto; [photographer’s imprint, blind stamped into mount] A. A. Martin / toronto
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MAIN VIEW OF THE FIRE LOOKING NORTHWEST A.A. Martin c. April 19, 1904 gelatin silver print, mounted mount: 12 x 15 in (30.5 x 38.1 cm); print: 7 ½ x 9 ⅝ in (19 x 24.4 cm) Marks (recto): [photographer’s imprint, blind stamped into mount, and again into print] A. A. Martin / toronto
detail Inscription (verso): Main view of the fire looking northwest from high building Cor Yonge + Front sts.
full image area
Inscription (verso): Looking east on Front st from cor Bay st
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LOOKING EAST ON FRONT ST FROM COR[NER OF] BAY ST A.A. Martin c. April 19, 1904 gelatin silver print, mounted mount: 7 ⅞ x 9 ⅞ in. (20 x 25 cm); print: 6 x 8 in (15.2 x 20.3 cm) Marks (recto): [photographer’s imprint, blind stamped into mount, and again into print] A. A. Martin / toronto
detail
overall view
FACTORY FIRE Unknown photographer c. 1880 albumen stereo photograph, mounted mount: 11 ⅞ x 14 ⅞ in (30.2 x 37.8 cm); print: 7 ¼ x 9 ¼ in (18.4 x 23.5 cm) Inscriptions/Marks (verso): [pencil] Factory Fire / - unknown location / - came with New England Views / 1 - 13 - 33
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THE DUNCAN RES[IDENCE] / FIRE OF JULY 11, 1911 Albert J. Bradshaw, Au Sable, MI 1911 hand-coloured gelatin silver print; postcard 3 ⅜ x 5 ⅜ in. (8.6 x 13.6 cm) Inscriptions/Marks (recto): [printed in-image] The Duncan Res' / View available in / Au Sable Mich / fire of July 1911 No. 7
FIRE IN PORCUPINE, JULY 11/11 Harry Peters, S. Porcupine Lake, ON 1911 gelatin silver print; postcard 3 ⅜ x 5 ⅜ in. (8.6 x 13.6 cm) Inscriptions/Marks (recto): [printed in-image] Fire in Porcupine / July 1911 / H. Peters / Photo
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Inscription (verso): Klamath Falls, Oregon / Klamath Falls. Has 57 Mills and Bit Factories in and near by.
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EWAUNA [MILL] FIRE Unknown photographer c.1910 gelatin silver print on orange-dyed real photo postcard 3 ⅜ x 5 ⅜ in. (8.6 x 13.6 cm) Inscriptions/Marks (recto): [printed in-image] Euwauna Fire.
FOREST FIRES OF 1908 Bradshaw c. 1908 hand-coloured gelatin silver print; postcard 3 ⅜ x 5 ⅜ in. (8.6 x 13.6 cm) Inscriptions/Marks (recto): [printed in-image] Forest Fire of 1908 / Bradshaw Photo'g
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Family album from Welland, Ontario, featuring several images of a large fire at [Coopers] Riverside Mills (Welland) dated July 21, 1922. Also featuring a small number of Confederation and other Canadian postage stamps.
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MILL FIRE ALBUM, WELLAND, ONTARIO Unknown photographer, Canadian (Welland, ON) c. 1922 string-bound album with black leatherette covers, containing 217 gelatin silver prints, 1 cabinet card, 8 postage stamps album: 10 ¼ x 13 ½ x 1 ¾ in. (26 x 35 x 4.5 cm); prints: from 2 3/8 x 3 ¼ in. to 5 ¼ x 3 ¼ in. (6 x 8.25 cm to 13.3 x 8.3 cm)
THE MCDONALD HOTEL ON FIRE Larss & Duclos, Dawson c. November 1, 1901 gelatin silver print print: 8 ¾ x 10 in. (22.4 x 25.2 cm) Inscriptions/Marks (recto): [printed in-image] Larss & Duclos / Dawson // The McDonald Hotel on Fire Nov. 1st 1901.
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Before the fire...
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PYRE WITH PAPER LANTERNS AND CROWD Unknown photographer, American c. 1895 albumen print mounted to board, matted mat: 14 x 11 in. (35.6 x 27.9 cm); mount: 10 x 8 in. (25.4 x 20.3 cm); print: 5 ¾ x 4 ½ in. (14.6 x 11.4 cm)
PYRE, 1894 Unknown photographer, American c.1894 albumen print mounted to board, matted mat: 14 x 11 in. (35.6 x 27.9 cm); mount: 10 x 8 in. (25.4 x 20.3 cm); print: 5 ž x 4 ½ in. (14.6 x 11.4 cm)
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Certified appraiser
Neil David MacDonald appraisals of Photographs Fine Books Libraries Archives Estates for the purposes of Donations Insurance Pre-Move Toronto, Ontario, Canada
rarephotoltd@gmail.com 416-535-9895
Prices are in US dollars. All items are subject to prior sale. Canadian customers will be charged 13% HST where applicable. Customers new to us are requested to send payment in advance. Institutional billing requirements will be accommodated. All items are guaranteed as described. If not satisfied, returns will be accepted within 10 days of receipt. Advance notification is requested. We accept Canadian or U.S. dollar cheques, international money orders, wire transfers, credit cards, or PayPal. All items will be shipped surface unless otherwise advised. All packing, shipping, and insurance costs are the responsibility of the purchaser. Full scans and descriptions available upon request. In the listed dimensions, height precedes width. The date, where possible, refers to the negative date. All photographs are vintage prints, unless stated otherwise. Photographs may not be exactly as they appear in the digital or print format catalogues. This catalogue is available to view online at: www.rarephotogallery.com. Please contact us by telephone at (416) 535-9895, or by email at rarephotoltd@gmail.com. We welcome visitors by appointment. We are always interested in purchasing individual items and entire collections. 41 Spadina Road, Suite One Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5R 2S9 Direction: Neil David MacDonald Design: sol Legault All rights reserved. Not intended for reproduction. Copyright 2016 Rare Photo Gallery
Other Catalogues by Rare Photo Gallery ❧ Train Wreck: A Collection of Early Photographs ❧ The Fenian Raids: Fenian Era Photographs and Ephemera ❧ Approaching Canadian Photography: 150 Years ❧ Cuba: 100 Years of Cuban Photography ❧ Bunny [Photographs by Bunny Yeager] ❧ Fancy Goods & Yankee Notions: Printed Ephemera ❧ No Man's Land: Photography and the Great War, Part I ❧ War Against War: Photography and World War One, Part II ❧ Vista: Early Photography in the Great West
purchase catalogues at: http://www.blurb.ca/user/store/rarephoto or view online at: https://issuu.com/rarephotogallery or at: http://rarephotogallery.com/
Rare Photo Gallery 2016