Taken by J. H. Walzl, Baltimore, Maryland; A daguerreotype photographic stock business catering to the Southern trade.

I have no information on the subject, other than a name “A.G. Williams,” but the photographer had an interesting career.

John Henry Walzl was born, 1833, in Austria. 

He came to America in the early 50’s and settled in Baltimore, Maryland, and in 1854 associated with him Mr. Beeckman Cooke in the daguerreotype business, under the firm style of Cooke & Walzl. Six months after the co-partnership was formed Mr. Walzl bought the entire interest of the establishment. He extended his business considerably, engaging largely in the supplying of daguerreotype stock or material to the Southern trade. 

Upon the introduction of photography in 1856 he again expanded his business, his establishment becoming the leading one of its kind in Baltimore. 

Mr. Walzl was the inventor of Tatum’s Patent Oil-ground Photographs, a process whereby photographs can be printed directly on the oiled canvas. 

Since 1868 Mr. Walzl has devoted himself very extensively to operations in real estate.. …..As early as 1860 he purchased considerable land in that place, and has erected thereon many elegant and valuable structures. 

He also purchased Chancellorsville, Virginia, which was the scene of bloody conflicts during the civil war. This tract of land embraced about one thousand acres. The old Chancellor Hotel, which was destroyed during the war, was renovated by him; he built a schoolhouse, and established a flourishing Sunday-school, Mr. P. R. Uhler, Librarian of the Peabody Institute, kindly furnishing the books and exerting himself in behalf of the religious work. Mr. Walzl’s aim was to colonize the above section of Virginia with industrious Germans, who would develop its resources and thus add largely to the substantial wealth and prosperity of the State.” (ref. “Large Format Photography Forum”).

At some point during his business ventures he must have delved into producing albumen images.  The backmark for this images reads, “SOUTHERN Photographic Temple of Art. No. 213 Baltimore Street, BALTIMORE.”  J.H. WALZL.

Fine condition.

Gil Barrett Collection.