Posted By:
TimA glass plate negative of Walter Johnson Jr was listed on Ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT&item=270242684179
Until recently I didn't know much about these types of negatives, but what I have learned is that most are 4" x 5" or 5" x 7" yet many other sizes are common. But I couldn't find any 1 3/4" x 2 1/2".
I sent the seller an email and asked how they acquired this item and if they had any idea how old it was. Their response was "I found them at an estate sale and judging from the clothes in the box with it I would say they're 1920's." So I checked to see what other items the seller had for sale and they had about 15-20 other negatives of this same size. Several were of other famous people, Teddy Roosevelt, Fatty Arbuckle, etc.
So I searched the web for any info on fake or reproduction glass negatives and came up empty. I researched the photographers listed in the picture, Harris and Ewing, and learned they were well know in Washington D.C. where Johnson lived.
Water Jr was born July 1, 1915 so the picture should have been taken around July of 1917.
To make a long story short I wanted this item, but something about it didn't set right with me.
Is there any information someone can share that will make me feel better (or worse) about not pursuing this auction more aggressively?
Here's the image produced by the negative.
