Posted By:
Bob LemkeWith due respect to those auction houses which in the past refused to handle the Flynn photos in question (every Old Judge related photo, regardless of its original intent, has become a de facto "proof" in the hobby's estimation), I spoke at length with one of the hobby's most respected auction principals (I did not seek his permission, so won't name him here) who was instrumental in bringing the original Vermont trove of OJ-related materials from the attic to the hobby market. He told me that representative samples were sent to, and authenticated by, the firm of photography experts who were prosecution expert witnesses at the O.J. Simpson trial then on-going. The Flynn photos, like the grouping held by Jay Miller were mounted in a frame from which they have since wvidenly been extricated. It is evident the cardboard on which these were mounted is not contemporary with the 1880s, but I stand by my inexpert opinion that the photos themselves ARE 19th Century production. A question: If the Flynn pictures are latter-day reproductions, where are the glass-plate negatives? They don't appear to have been part of the Vermont find, or if they were, they have been squirreled away since the dispersal. It is great that American Memorabilia is going to have these available for inspection at Ft. Washington. I hope all the experts will avail themselves of the opportunity and report back here what they see.