41: EARLIEST KNOWN PHOTOGRAPH AND ONLY KNOWN DAGUERREOT Start Price USD 25,000.00 Current Price USD 35,000.00 Time Left - Bid Count 5 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, September 17, 2008 End Time Wednesday, September 17, 2008 Location 1687 West Buckhill Road Burlington, NC 27215 See more about '41: EARLIEST KNOWN PHOTOGRAPH AND ONLY KNOWN DAGUERREOT' Description click for larger image41: EARLIEST KNOWN PHOTOGRAPH AND ONLY KNOWN DAGUERREOTCased sixth plate daguerreotype, ca. late 1840s, artist and location unknown, likely Louisiana, on plate with early Scovills hallmark made in Waterbury, Connecticut, its leatherette case embellished with tooled gold foliate designs on the lid. The portly Benjamin, a prosperous attorney and sugar planter at the time of this sitting, comfortably wears the genial expression typifying his extant portraits. Grant Romer of the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film has examined this daguerreotype and feels that it was made in 1846. As such, it was probably taken in either New Orleans or Baton Rouge, well before the young Benjamin entered the national political arena. Prior to the discovery of this image, the earliest known photograph of Benjamin was an ambrotype. The spectacular unpublished portrait offered here is unique by virtue of the daguerrean process and is highly relevant to the historical record of Louisiana, the United States, the Confederacy and, especially, to the Jewish experience in 19th century America. It is in exceptionally fine condition with only trivial marks and the merest hint of marginal haloing. Judah Philip Benjamin (1811-1884) is arguably history's greatest Jewish-American after Albert Einstein. A child immigrant from the Virgin Islands, Benjamin was raised in Charleston's dynamic mercantile culture by a father who founded the nation's first Jewish Reform congregation. Opportunity lured the young Carolinian westward and the talented Benjamin was admitted to the Louisiana bar within a year of his 1832 arrival. By 1842 he was sitting in the state legislature. The turbulent 1850s found Benjamin serving in the U.S. Senate as an advocate of Southern interests. There he befriended the likes of Jefferson Davis, who no doubt was impressed by the Louisiana senator's intelligence, eloquence and energy. In February 1861, Benjamin followed his state into the Confederacy and was immediately given a cabinet post, becoming the new nation's first Attorney General. In September 1861, however, he was named Secretary of War and took personal responsibility for several military setbacks that happened during his watch. In March of 1862, President Davis wisely chose Benjamin to head up the increasingly active Confederate State Department. He remained the Secretary of State until the final dissolution of the Confederate Government in May 1865. Benjamin proved himself a political visionary with a knack for diplomacy. He blossomed. Although failing to secure foreign recognition of the Confederacy, Benjamin's efforts were largely responsible for orchestrating critical material aid from sympathizers abroad. War's end found a wanted Benjamin fleeing the United States for refuge in England. Ever resourceful, he launched a third legal career and was a very successful London barrister for the rest of his life.Auction House Raynors' Historical Collectible Auctions1687 West Buck Hill RdBurlington, NC United States 27215336.584.3330Terms & ConditionsTerms of Auction Sale1. Bidding Contract: By placing a bid, you are accepting all Terms of Auction Sale as defined below. You are also creating an irrevocable contract (as defined by the statues of North Carolina) to purchase the item at the price you bid plus buyer's premium and packing/shipping/insurance charges. Additionally, you agree that in the event that Raynors Historical Collectible Auction is forced to bring a law suit to satisfy payment of your invoice, and Raynors Historical Collectible Auction prevails, you will pay all Historical Collectible Auction's legal fees associated with that law suit.2. Bidders Premium (2A). ABSENTEE BIDS received by Phone, Fax, or Email Buyers Premium: For those bids received by phone, fax, or direct email there is a 17.5% Buyers Premium charged on the final hammer price. (2B). REAL TIME BIDS received through "LiveAuctioneers," "eBay Live Auctions," Buyers Premium: For those bids received by through LiveAuctioneers or through eBay Live Auctions there is a 22.5% Buyers Premium charged on the final hammer price.3. Estimated Value: Estimated prices are only a guide to value. All items open at 50% of the low estimated value or $100 whichever is greater. Please bid accordingly.4. Bid Rejection: The auctioneer reserves the absolute right to reject any bid for any reason.5. Item Withdrawn: The auctioneer reserves the absolute right to withdraw any item for any reason.6. Reserves: Some lots carry a reserve.7. Item Description and Photography: We make an honest effort to correctly describe and image the property to be sold. Our descriptions are accurate. However, you may preview the item at our offices prior to the auction. If this is not possible, we will FederalExpress item(s) to known clients for preview at their expense. Some illustrations have size modifications to aid in catalog layout. This auction is also available in paper catalog format. Paper catalogs are available for $15.00.8. Authentication Guarantee: All material is guaranteed to be genuine unless otherwise described. If you believe an item has been improperly described and that description error is material to the value of the item, you may return it for full refund IF (a) you call for return authorization in advance of returning the item (b) you return the item within three days of your receipt and within 21 days of the auction close date.If you pay late and thus, receive your items late, it does not qualify for special privileges. The guarantee is null and void 21 days after the auction. It is your responsibility to pay for and acquire your purchases in a timely fashion. So if there is a major discrepancy, you have time to notify our office. Please remember that if you call us 22 days after the auction, there is nothing we can do about a major discrepancy except apologize to you. (c) you return the item in the same condition as it was sent to you. After 21 days of the auction close date, all items are sold on an "as is" basis and cannot be returned to for any reason.9. Billing/Payment: Paper invoices will be mailed within (3) three days of auction close date. Full payment is expected within 14 days of auction close.10. Shipping: All shipping is made through Federal Express to street addresses only. The packing/shipping/insurance charge is calculated using actual Federal Express charges with a minimum of $15.00. All framed items have a minimum packing/shipping/insurance charge of $20.00Auction Bidding ProceeduresSchedule of Actions for this Auction:Absentee Bidding opens through the phone, fax and our website upon receipt of the catalog.Tuesday, September 16th: Absentee bidding closes at 6:00PM.Tuesday, September 16th: Reservations for phone lines close at 6:00PM.Wednesday, September 17th: Part 1, Real Time Bidding through the internet and PhoneReservation bidding starts at 11:00AM. Part 1 will close at approximately 5:00PM.Thursday, September 18th: Part 2, Real Time Bidding through the internet and Phone Reservation bidding starts at 11:00AM. Part 2 will close at approximately 5:00PM.How To Register:All bidders are required to register for the right to place bids. A Registration Form can be found within the catalog. If you have bid with us in the past, you are registered and need only to call for your bidder number.Bidders using "LiveAuctioneers," "eBay Live Auctions," MUST REGISTER through their websites, at www.liveauctioneers.com or, www.ebayliveauctions.com, respectively.How To Place A Bid:Absentee Bidding: Bidding is open upon receipt of the catalog and uploding of our website. You can bid by phone, fax or email. All absentee bids must be received by Tuesday, September 16th at 6:00PM. You may place maximum bids. All bids are handled as "competitive bids." This means that if your bid is the highest received, you will be billed only one increment above your under bidder. In the event we receive "tie maximum bids," the earliest received will be the winning bid.Real Time Bidding Schedule: Real Time Bidding for Part 1, starts at 11:00 AM, Wednesday September 17th. Real Time Bidding for Part 2, starts at 11:00 AM, Thursday September 18th.Real Time Bidding Through the Internet: You can bid in Real Time through the internet on EbayLive Auctions (http://www.ebayliveauctions.com). Please note that you MUST register for this auction at their site BEFORE the auction to be allowed to bid on this auction.Real Time Bidding Via a Reserved Phone Line: You can bid in Real Time by reserving a phone line. Once the reservation is made, we will call you when the item comes to the floor. To reserve a phone line, you must (1) be the high bidder on the lot at the time you make the reservation, (2) make the reservation by Tuesday, September 16th at 6:00pm.Bidding Increments: Bids will be advanced in the following increments;$10 increments on lots between $50-$200$25 increments on lots between $200-$500$50 increments on lots between $500-$1000$100 increments on lots between $1000-$2500$250 increments on lots between $2500-$10,000$500 increments on lots between $10,000-$20,000$1000 increments on lots over $20,000Split Increments: The auctioneer reserves the right to "split increments" at his discretion.ShippingBuyer Pays Shipping CostBuyer's Premium22.5%PaymentCertified, personal or bank check accepted as well as Money Orders. Sorry, no PayPal.TaxesLocal Taxes ApplyContractYour bid is a contract.Place a bid only if you're serious about buying the item. If you are the successful and winning bidder, you have entered into a legally binding contract to purchase the property bid on from the seller. You should contact the seller to resolve any questions before bidding.RegistrationBidders are required to:a) Sign up for this auction& b) Complete bidding approval formApproval is at the discretion of the Auction House.HelpHelp with biddingImages Auction services provided by LiveAuctioneers Place a Bid!