Help with 1916 Ruth Photo

[pencil1974]

Hi All,

I was wondering if I could get some photo help with this Ruth that I just picked up. I've already have talk to Forever Young offline about this photo (good talking with you Ben and thanks for all of your help and knowledge).

I do know its older than 1955 as I ran it under a black light and as you can see its doesn't glow. I am also sending it to PSA to see if I can get this certified as what type of photo it is. As it was glued to this board the photo was unhinged but pretty unharmed in shipping so I was able to see the back of the photo as well. To my untrained eye it looks a lot like a silver gelatin with more gloss than I have seen on a photo and seems on better quality paper. But that is why I'm sending to PSA to see. I also could be wrong on the year I'm just sort of guessing at that.

My question is does anyone know who the photographer was? It's a very interesting and cool piece so help on any aspect of it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Brad

[prewarsports]

My opinion (without actually holding it in hand) is that it is most likely a 1930's-40's era restrike. A couple of things jump out at me that lead me to think this. First, the paper loss left a fibrous white area which is common of post-WWI (late 1920's through the 1940's) paper stock used for photographs. Original 1910's images would have been on thinner paper stock unless it was a double weight image which still would not generally leave that type of pattern when loss occurred. The photo paper also seems thicker and more absorbent to the glue that was used to back it which is why it is stained that way. My conclusion is based solely on the paper stock used and not the quality of the photo itself. Looks like late 1920's-1940's era paper to me.

Rhys

[drcy]

Concur with Rhys. I would have guessed circa 1920s-1930s.