Annuals. Daguerreian Annual 2014.

Mark S. Johnson, ed. Daguerreian Society, 2015. [Topics and photographers include Daguerreotypes; Ambrotypes; African American Clothing in early photographs; California Gold Rush; George S. Cook, itinerant in Georgia; Brothers Charles E. and Luther Holman Hale, Boston; Indian Territory; Hawaii; Henry Fitz, Jr.; Postmortem portraits; Winter clothing; Southworth & Hawes; Henry E. Insley; Abraham Bogardus; Ake Hultman; Marcus Aurelius Root; Claude Levet; Mike Robinson; Ferdinand Vitagliano, Marseille.] One of 550 softcover copies. Bumped on lower right front corner, still very good. Summary:

The Daguerreian Annual 2014, published by the Daguerreian Society, is a premier scholarly compendium dedicated to the history, science, and art of the 19th-century silver-plate process. This volume is noted for its high-quality reproductions and deep-dive research into both famous and obscure figures of the era.

Historical and Cultural Research

The issue places a significant emphasis on the intersection of early photography and social history:

• African American Identity: A major feature by Karin J. Bohleke explores African American clothing and dress, analyzing how early portraits served as tools of "assimilation, amalgamation, and defiance."

• Expansion and Conflict: The volume documents the California Gold Rush through an examination of the Matthew R. Isenburg collection and follows missionary activities from the Indian Territory to the Kingdom of Hawaii.

• Regional Pioneers: Research highlights George S. Cook’s early years as an itinerant in Georgia and the Boston-based partnership of brothers Charles E. and Luther Holman Hale.

Technical and Biographical Studies

The Annual serves as a record for the technical evolution of the medium and the masters who defined it:

• The Masters: Features delve into the work of Southworth & Hawes, the portraiture of Abraham Bogardus, and the entrepreneurial spirit of Henry E. Insley.

• Scientific Origins: An essential portfolio on Henry Fitz, Jr.—an early American telescope maker and daguerreotypist—provides "open research" into some of the earliest surviving photographic images.

• Modern Practitioners: The issue bridges the gap between historical study and modern practice, featuring insights from contemporary daguerreotypists like Mike Robinson (on San Francisco panoramic views) and Ake Hultman.

Key Themes and Curiosities

• The Human Condition: The volume includes poignant analyses of postmortem portraits and the "corporeal affect" of 19th-century imagery, exploring how these objects functioned in the grieving process.

• Material Culture: From a study on winter clothing (including "polka dots and sweaters") to the identification of social class through sewing and fitting errors, the book treats the daguerreotype as a primary source for fashion history.

• International Footprint: Beyond America, the research extends to the work of Ferdinand Vitagliano in Marseille and early New Zealand daguerreotypes.

Significance: The 2014 Annual remains a vital resource for collectors and historians, emphasizing that a daguerreotype is not just an image, but a complex material object reflecting the "perfect identity" of its subject.