The Image is a fascinating portrait of 3 miners who appear to have just emerged from the mine. Two stand in the foreground with miner’s lanterns affixed to their hats. The third sits atop a donkey / mule who is harnessed to chains with which he would have hauled the oar cars up the tracks from the bowels of the mine. Behind the mule there is an oar car which stands in front of the entrance to the mine.

    Unfortunately neither the mine nor its location is identified in any way. Neither are the miners nor the photographer.

    This rare and fascinating, ca1900 American Mining subject Photograph is in very good condition. The Image itself exhibits soft focus but good contrast and tonality as is often the case with the enlargements made to be framed in bubble glass frames of this type. The soft, pastel hand tinting is attractive and well preserved. There is a vertical crease at the left hand edge of the Photo and a few areas of surface scuffing to the emulsion but overall the Photo is well preserved and displays nicely. The beautiful, wood grain surface, Convex Glass / Bubble Glass frame is well preserved with light edge wear only.

    A very rare and original, ca1900 Large Format, Hand Tinted Photograph of three Miners posed with a mule at the entrance to an unidentified mine and a fantastic addition to any collection!!

    Be sure to check out this seller’s other auctions for other 19th and early 20th century American Mining subject Photographs which are also being offered for sale this week on eBay!