Mole and Thomas Vintage Silver Gelatin Print - Uncle Sam

[Buffalo Grunt]

A friend of mine has just acquired a original framed Silver Gelatin, Uncle Sam print .. Size (framed) is 15" X 12" Taken at Camp Lee, Virginia. 13 January 1919. What would be the value of something like this be? I've seen various estimates on the World Wide Web. Any assistance would be appreciated.

 

I apologize for the poor photographs.

 

Thanks

 

 

[scottiques]

These are great-- I have a couple of different views (Liberty Bell and 1st Division Insignia).

 

The market has dropped on these considerably. About 10 years ago, I used to see them sell regularly in the $800- $1200 range (Excellent Condition in period frames). Art photograph dealers were even getting more for them.

 

Now they seem to sell in the $200- $500 range. The USMC and Machine Gun Company insignia may push the top end a little.

 

Yours appears to be in very good condition and in original frame, so I'd expect it to be in that range.

 

Originally, these sold for $1! There are a lot of reprints of these out there, so collectors be careful. The original should have a label on the back.

 

Scott

[Buffalo Grunt]

Scott,

 

I can't thank you enough for the information. My friend will be happy, as he saved it from the trash on a job site.

 

I wonder if it would be wise to try and see if I can get an image of the label on the back of the photo?

 

I agree with you on the cool factor .. they were popular for a few years, and it's amazing how the were able to do these .. sometimes taking several hours to get one set up ..

 

Thanks again for your assistance,

Don

 

 

 

 

These are great-- I have a couple of different views (Liberty Bell and 1st Division Insignia).

 

The market has dropped on these considerably. About 10 years ago, I used to see them sell regularly in the $800- $1200 range (Excellent Condition in period frames). Art photograph dealers were even getting more for them.

 

Now they seem to sell in the $200- $500 range. The USMC and Machine Gun Company insignia may push the top end a little.

 

Yours appears to be in very good condition and in original frame, so I'd expect it to be in that range.

 

Originally, these sold for $1! There are a lot of reprints of these out there, so collectors be careful. The original should have a label on the back.

 

Scott

 

[scottiques]

Glad to help.

 

I don't know that I would mess with it just to try and get a photo of the back. From your pictures, it certainly looks like old framing and I would be comfortable that it was WW1 era and not modern.

 

A future owner may want to take it out to get acid free backing on it for preservation reasons.

 

Scott