[Salesman's Samples]: Three Photographic Portraits of a Rural American Family, a Woman, and a Boy: Printed on Silk, circa late 1890s

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[Salesman’s Sample]. Three large printed sheets of white silk (about 17” x 17”) and a larger piece of doubled-sided cloth sewn together along the outer edge (about 19” x 23”), clasped together along the top margin on an adjustable wooden rod. The wooden rod is neatly halved (held together with two metal screws at either end) and designed to roll-up the printed satin sheets within the cloth backing. Rubbing and modest scattered scuffing to the outer side of the cloth backing (with remnants of wax paper), some staining at the lower margin of the inside piece of the cloth backing, very good.

A unique, custom made artifact displaying three photographs printed on white silk. Likely used by a traveling salesman as samples of this uncommon and visually striking printing process. The first image is of a young woman with a pearl necklace, followed by an informal outdoor portrait of a rural family standing in front of a farm house, and a portrait of a young boy. The more formal portraits of the woman and boy provide a marked contrast to the seven members of a hardscrabble family.

A very rare example of photographs printed entirety on silk.

Item #420714

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Item #420714 [Salesman's Samples]: Three Photographic Portraits of a Rural American Family, a Woman, and a Boy: Printed on Silk, circa late 1890s
[Salesman's Samples]: Three Photographic Portraits of a Rural American Family, a Woman, and a Boy: Printed on Silk, circa late 1890s
[Salesman's Samples]: Three Photographic Portraits of a Rural American Family, a Woman, and a Boy: Printed on Silk, circa late 1890s
[Salesman's Samples]: Three Photographic Portraits of a Rural American Family, a Woman, and a Boy: Printed on Silk, circa late 1890s