Photograph album III

ALBUM (III). OWNED BY MARION LEA MITCHELL AND SIGNED BY HER. The following 124 photographs (in 117 entries) appear in an album issued by G.R. & Co., circa 1875, in the original dark green morocco over beveled boards (11.5 x 8.75”). Signed by Marion Lea [Mitchell] on the verso of the front free endpaper and dated by her, London, 1875. Spine perished, boards detached, some stains to leaves (affecting photographs only when indicated below); thus album itself in poor condition. Photographs are in very good or better condition, except when otherwise indicated below. The individual photographs are as follows:

[Page 1]. [LEA, Susannah Massey]. CDV. Ownership inscription signed by Marion Lea on the verso. Some faint soiling to photograph, still about very good. A head-shot, in profile, of Susannah Massey Lea, the mother of Marion Lea. The subject is identified based on comparison with a labeled photograph on p. [13] of this album.

CDV depicting unidentified man. Back-mark: J.W. Black, 173 Washington St., Boston.

CDV depicting unidentified man. Back-mark: Taylor & Brown, 912-914 Chestnut St., Philadelphia.

[MERRITT, Anna Lea] “Nany.” CDV SIGNED AND INSCRIBED. Inscription on verso reads: “From Nany to dear little May [ie. Marion Lea].” Front-mark and back-mark: Robert Eich, Dresden. Very good plus. Depicts Merritt three-quarters length, in right profile, with her back turned to the photographer. Anna Lee Merritt (1844-1930) was a native of Philadelphia and the sister of Marion Lea. She moved to London in 1871 and there found success as a painter, etcher, muralist, and author. In 1877, she married her art teacher and mentor, Henry Merritt, who died three months after the wedding. Anna Lea Merritt was best known as a portrait artist, whose famous subjects included James Russell Lowell, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Henry James. Her 1889 painting, Love Locked Out, was the first work by a woman purchased by the Tate Gallery. She also exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Paris Salon, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and her works were featured at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia (1876), the Exposition Universelle in Paris (1889), and the World’s Columbian Exhibition in Chicago (1893).

[Page 2]. MERRITT, Henry. CDV SIGNED AND INSCRIBED. Inscription on verso reads: “May Lea, from Henry Merritt, 25 Dec., 1874.” Back-mark: L. Galdesi, London. Front-mark with photographer’s name. Depicts Merritt seated, full bust. Photograph damped and faded with some detriment to Merritt’s visage; fair only. Merritt was an art teacher and critic in London. In 1877, he married Philadelphia-born painter Anna Lea, sister of Marion Lea, but died several months after the wedding. 375) [MERRITT, Anna Lea]. CDV. Photograph trimmed to oval. Back-mark: Lombardi & Co., 13 Pall Mall East, London; 113 Kings Road, Brighton. Front-mark with photographer’s name and cities of operation. Half-bust portrait of Merritt. Inscription in the album reads: “Anna Lea Merritt as a widow.” Bright and near fine. (See description of Merritt’s CDV on page [1] of this album for biographical information).

CDV depicting unidentified woman. Back-mark: L. Suscipj, Rome.

WEREFKINN [?], Arcadic [?]. CDV SIGNED. Inscription on verso reads: “Arcadic [?] Werefkinn [?], 1879. Back-mark: L. Subercaze, Pau. Full-length studio portrait of man, standing.

[Page 3]. [MITCHELL, Silas Weir]. CDV. [Circa 1855-60]. Back-mark: F. Gutekunst, 712 Arch Street, Philadelphia. Half-bust portrait of Mitchell. Inscription in album reads, “S. Weir Mitchell about 1855-60. Some minor foxing, still very good or better.

CDV depicting unidentified man. Inscription on verso reads: “L___ [illegible], at Nice, Jan., 1863.” Back-mark: Pierre Petit, Paris. Front-mark with photographer’s name.

CDV depicting unidentified woman with child. Back-mark: Edw. L. Allen & Frank Rowell, Winter St., Boston.

CDV depicting unidentified man. Front-mark and back-mark: Jesse A. Graves, Delaware Water Gap, PA.

[Page 4]. CDV depicting unidentified man. Front-mark: Gillman & Co., Oxford.

[DAY], Frank Miles. Original photograph measuring 3.5 x 2.5”. [1927]. Subject identified by inscription in album reading: “Frank Miles, Day II in Rome, 1927.” Portrait of Langdon Mitchell’s grandson as a young boy. Frank Miles Day was the son of Kenneth MacKensie Day and Langdon Mitchell’s daughter, nee Helen Mary Langdon Mitchell.

CDV depicting unidentified woman. Front-mark and back-mark: London Stereoscopic Company, 110 & 108 Regent St.

[Page 5]. [MITCHELL, Langdon Elwyn]. CDV. Inscription on verso reads: “With the child’s love, 1884.” Back-mark: F. Gutekunst, 712 Arch St., Philadelphia. Small pinhole, not affecting image of Mitchell, else very good. Depicts Mitchell as a young boy, wearing a dress, in a full-length portrait, seated. He is identified by an inscription in the album and by comparison with a similar, labeled photograph in the collection.

Original photograph measuring 3 x 2” depicting unidentified woman, child, and dog.

LOW, Pearl. CDV SIGNED AND INSCRIBED. Inscription on verso reads: “To dear Aunt May [Lea], from Pearl Low. Laken, Oct. 20, 1888.” Back-mark: Hinkle, 1673 Main St., Germantown, PA. The subject was perhaps a daughter of Marion Lea’s sister, Bertha, and her husband, Charles Allard Low. Slight soil at base of card with negligible impact on image; else near fine.

CDV depicting unidentified man. Back-mark: Taylor & Brown, 912-914 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. [Same image as another CDV in the album, on first page].

[Page 6]. COOPER, Rona. CDV SIGNED AND INSCRIBED. Inscription on verso reads: “Rona Cooper, 1875. To May Lea.” Back-mark: W. Cronenberg, Darmstadt, [etc.]. Front-mark with photographer’s name. Slightly faded and moderately foxed; good only.

[MITCHELL, Langdon Elwyn?]. CDV. Back-mark: F. Gutekunst, 712 Arch St., Philadelphia. Very good plus. Half-bust portrait of a teenage male, presumably Langdon Mitchell (see another, labeled print of this same photograph on p. [35] below).

[MITCHELL, Marion Lea]. CDV. [Circa 1870]. Back-mark: Wenderoth, Taylor & Brown, 912-914 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. Near fine. Subject identified based on comparison with labeled photographs of Lea in the collection. Full-length portrait of Lea as a child, standing, in theatrical dress.

[MITCHELL, Marion Lea]. CDV. [Circa 1870]. Same back-mark as preceding entry. Near fine. Subject identified based on comparison with labeled photographs of Lea in the collection. Full-length portrait of Lea as child, standing, in theatrical dress [different costume than preceding entry, but with same backdrop and props].

[Page 7]. SALVINI, Tommaso. CABINENT CARD SIGNED AND INSCRIBED. Inscription on recto of card below photograph reads: “To Miss Marion Lea, Tommaso Salvini, 9 February, 1889.” Back-mark: C.F. Conly, 465 Washington St., Boston. Card roughly trimmed at top and bottom, with loss to front-mark, but with negligible loss to photograph; else very good plus. Tommaso Salvini (1829-1915) was a noted tragedian, who performed in American and England as well as his native Italy. He is here depicted in a full-bust portrait, seated.

[Page 8]. WATTS, G[eorge] F[rederic]. CABINET CARD SIGNED[?]. [Circa 1900]. Matte photograph. Watts’s name is written on the photograph in pen, most likely in his own hand, however we have not been able to authenticate the signature. Back-mark: Fred. Hollyer, 9 Pembroke Sqr., Kensington, [London]. Card trimmed with slight impact on back-mark, but with no loss to photograph; very good. Watts (1817-1904) was a celebrated English painter associated with the pre-Raphaelite and Symbolist movements. He is here depicted full-bust, seated, in right profile.

[Page 9]. RUSKIN, John. CDV SIGNED. [Circa 1866]. Ruskin signs the recto of the card below his photograph. Front-mark and back-mark: Elliott & Fry, 55 Baker Street, London. Card trimmed (a bit roughly) at head and with moderate stain at head, both flaws affecting margin of photograph with no impact on image of Ruskin; else good plus with a few tiny spots affecting image. Penciled inscription on verso reads: “Friend of Marion Lea before her marriage to Langdon Mitchell.” John Ruskin (1819-1900), the famous Victorian critic, artist, and poet, sat for Elliott and Fry on a number of occasions. The present photograph is perhaps the earliest image of Ruskin made by this prestigious studio. He is here depicted in a half-bust portrait. This CDV is dated based on an engraving of the photograph, which appears in Spielman’s biography of John Ruskin (1900, p. 91).

[Page 10]. IBSEN, Henrik. CABINET CARD SIGNED AND INSCRIBED. 1891. Presentation inscription signed by Ibsen, in Norwegian, to Marion Lea, dated April 29, 1891, Munich, on the verso. The inscription mentions ‘Thea Elvsted,” Lea’s role in the London debut of Ibsen’s play, Hedda Gabler, on April 20, 1891. This was the first English language production of the play as well as the British premier. (The world debut was in Munich, in January of the same year). In addition to playing in Hedda Gabler, Lea co-managed the play with her co-star, friend, and fellow American, Elizabeth Robins. The women also helped revise the English translation of the script, by Edmund Gosse, in secret collaboration with William Archer. [Gosse’s publisher, Heinemann, held the rights to the play in England, and Archer had harshly criticized the translation in print. See John, Elizabeth Robins: A Staging Life, pp. 54-55]. The play was staged at the Vaudeville Theatre, where it succeeded well enough as a matinee to be moved to the evening bill. Upon hearing of the success of the production, Ibsen wrote to William Archer and enclosed two photographs, one being the present cabinet card for Lea as well as another for Robins. His letter, bearing the same date as this cabinet card, states: “It is a great pleasure to me to be allowed to send my photograph, through you, to the two excellent actresses. The inscription I have, as you see, written in Norwegian; will you be so kind as to write the English below it?” [Archer evidently declined to do as instructed, perhaps giving Lea a verbal or other written translation instead. An inscription appears below Ibsen’s on the card, but it was obviously written at a later date and almost certainly not by Archer. It is written in pencil with the last few words in ink, and gives biographical information on Lea.] Front-mark: J.C. Schaarwachter, Berlin. Light wear to base of card with slight impact on photographer’s mark, a few light scratches to image; good plus. A superb and well-documented presentation photograph.

[Page 11]. CDV depicting unidentified child. Trimmed at base with loss of front-mark.

[MITCHELL, Langdon Elwyn]. CDV. [Circa 1880’s]. Back-mark: Hinkle, 4673 Main Street, Germantown. Light foxing with minimal impact on image of Mitchell; crack to lower left corner, not affecting image; good plus. Half-bust portrait of Mitchell in early adulthood. He is identified in a penciled inscription in the album.

[MITCHELL, Weir?]. CDV. [Circa early 1890’s]. Card trimmed to oval and back-mark lost, else very good. Penciled inscription in album reads: “`Uncle’ Weir I think, H.D.” The supposed subject is Weir Mitchell (b. 1892), the first child of Langdon Mitchell and Marion Lea. The inscription was written by Helena Mary Langdon Mitchell Day, another child of Langdon and Marion, who writes her full name on page [27] of this album. The photograph is a head-shot portrait of an infant.

[Page 12]. M[ITCHELL], J[ohn] K[earsley]. CDV. 1880. Back-mark: Broadbent and Phillips, 1206 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Inscription on verso reads: “J.K.M. Cambridge, May 8, 1880.” Some light soil not affecting image of Mitchell; about very good. Depicts John Kearsley Mitchell II, son of Silas Weir Mitchell, in a full-bust portrait.

Original tin-type photograph measuring 3.25 x 2.5” depicting two identified men wearing mosquito masks, sitting by the side of a lake or river.

[LEA, Susanna Massey]. CDV. [Circa 1870]. Back-mark: Wenderoth, Taylor & Brown, 912-914 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Fine. Lea is identified based on a labeled photograph of her on p. [13] of this album. She is here depicted in a head-shot portrait. Susanna Massey Lea (1822- 1903) was the mother of Marion Lea.

[Page 13]. [LOW, Bertha Lea]. CDV depicting a marble bust by Pierce Francis Connelly. Backmark: L. Powers, Florence. Very good. Inscription in album reads: “Marble bust of Bertha Lea who became Mrs. Lowe … ” Berthea Lea Low (b. 1848) was a member of the Philadelphia Lea family and an artist.

[MITCHELL], Marion Lea. CDV SIGNED[?]. [Circa 1870’s]. Back-mark: Cha’s Gillman, Oxford. Very faint soil to photograph, minor rubbing to edges of card; very good. Head-shot portrait of Lea. Her name is written in a contemporary hand at the base of the photograph. It is presumably her autograph however we have not been able to find another example of her signature for authentication.

[MITCHELL, Marion Lea, et al.]. ORIGINAL TIN-TYPE PHOTOGRAPH. Circa 1870’s. Photograph measuring 3.75 x 2.5”. Lightly worn, still very good. A group portrait of five girls, including Marion Lea, who is depicted half-bust, seated.

LEA, Susanna Massey. CDV. [Circa 1869]. Front-mark: Levitsky, 22 Rue de Choiseul, [Paris]. Light soil, minor crack affecting card, but not photograph; very good. Early inscription on recto of card below photograph reads: “Mother Susanna Massey Lea, about 1869.” Lea is depicted in a head-shot portrait.

NAPOLEON [III]. CDV. [Circa 1871]. Back-mark: London Stereoscopic & Photographic Co., 110 & 108 Regent St. and 54 Cheapside. Front-mark: photographer’s name only. Napoleon III’s signature also appears in print on the recto of the card. Near fine. Inscription on verso states that this CDV was purchased as a gift for Marianne “May” Lea on June 23, 1871 (her birthday) by her father. Depicts Napoleon III in a halfbust portrait, taken near the end of his life (d. 1872).

[MITCHELL, Langdon Elwyn]. CDV, crudely trimmed to oval and hand-colored. Backmark: J.E. McClees, 910 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Depicts Mitchell as a young boy, wearing a dress, in a full-length portrait, seated.

Original photograph depicting unidentified woman. Photograph mounted on plain card and trimmed to 3.75 x 2.5”.

[Page 15]. [LEA, Marion]. CDV. [Circa 1866]. Back-mark: Wenderoth, Taylor & Brown, 912-914 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. A few tiny spots to photograph, still very good. Hand-tinted (giving color to lips and cheeks). Lea is here depicted in a full-length portrait, leaning against a pillar (studio prop).

[LEA, Julia]. CDV. [Circa 1860]. Back-mark: F. Guterkunst, 704 & 706 Arch St., Philadelphia. Very slight marginal soil, but better than very good. Hand-tinted (giving color to lips and cheeks) and hand-colored (color applied to subject’s dress). Full-length portrait of Lea, standing against a studio railing. She is identified based on an inscription in the album, which explains that she had “`hip disease’ ie. tuberculosis of the hipbone.” The inscription further states that she was crippled by the disease, but survived into her eighties. In the present photograph, Julia exhibits a thinness in her face and arms that can perhaps be attributed to her illness.

[MITCHELL, Marion Lea and unidentified woman]. CDV. [Circa 1880’s]. Back-mark: Hinkle, 4673 Main Street, Germantown, PA. Face of woman posed with Lea has been crossed over in ink, tiny nick to card not affecting photograph, else near fine. Lea, here a young woman, is depicted three-quarters length, standing, in profile, with her back turned towards the photographer.

[LEA, Marion?]. CDV. [Circa early 1870’s]. Back-mark: Taylor & Brown, 912-914, Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Minor soiling, corners trimmed, but very good. Hand-tinted (giving color to cheeks). Head-shot portrait of Lea as a child. Inscription on the verso consists of a quote by Celeste D. Massey. [Perhaps Celeste De Longpre Massey, a noted pianist].

[Page 16]. MARSHALL, George. CDV. Front-mark and back-mark: Lock & Whitfield, 178 Regent Street, London and 109 King’s Road, Brighton. Very good. Subject is identified by contemporary inscription on verso. Depicts a young man, full-bust, seated, in profile.

MARSHALL, Briant. CDV. Front-mark: Surrey Photo. Co., 32 High St., Guilford. Very good. Subject is identified by contemporary inscription on verso. Portrait of male in his teens, depicted full-length, standing.

MARSHALL, Murray Wyatt. CDV. 1870. Front-mark: Surrey Photo. Co., 32 High St., Guilford. Faint marginal soil, but very good. Subject is identified and photograph dated by early inscription on verso. Marshall is depicted in a half-bust portrait. Marshall (1852-1930), a native of Godalming, Surrey, England, was a timber merchant, ship owner, and captain of the Godlaming fire company. He was also a champion rugby player at Wellington College and a life-long supporter of cricket in Surrey.

MARSHALL, [?]. CDV. Inscription on verso reads: “For Connie E. Marshall – L. Marshall.” Back-mark: Hills & Saunders, 36 Porchester Terrace, London. Front-mark of photographer’s name and address. Near fine. Three-quarters length portrait of a woman. 418) MARSHALL, [?]. CDV. Front-mark: Surrey Photo. Co., 32 High St., Guildford. Depicts the same woman as in the preceding entry, this time seated on the floor, fulllength. [Inserted in the album behind the CDV described in the preceding entry].

[Page 17]. MARSHALL, L.H. CDV. Front-mark and back-mark: Jul. Giere, Hanover. Photograph trimmed to oval, as issued. Very good plus. Subject identified by contemporary inscription on verso. Half-bust portrait of a man in his teens or early twenties.

MARSHALL, Murray [Wyatt] and C.P.[?] Marshall. CDV. Back-mark: G.A. Flower, 258 Westminster Bridge Road, [London]. Some marginal soiling; about very good. Portrait of two men, one full-length seated on a studio fence, the other full-bust, standing behind fence.

MARSHALL, Via. CDV. Back-mark: C.H. Hawkins, 32 & 36 Preston Street, Brighton. Front-mark of photographer’s name and town of business. Very good. Subject identified by contemporary inscription on verso. Three-quarter length portrait of a woman, standing behind a studio fence.

MARSHALL, C.E. CDV. Back-mark: C.H. Hawkins, 32 & 38 Preston Street, Brighton. Front-mark of photographer’s name and town of business. Very good. Subject identified by contemporary inscription on verso. Three-quarter length portrait of a woman, standing behind a studio fence.

[Page 18]. [GAMMELL, Susanne Valentine Mitchell]. CDV. [Circa 1896]. Some light foxing, not affecting image; very good. Subject identified by penciled inscription in album. Susanne Valentine Mitchell Gammell (b. 1896) was the second child of Langdon and Marion Lea Mitchell. She married William Gammell, Jr., in 1925. She is here depicted as an infant, in a head-shot portrait.

[MITCHELL, Langdon Elwyn?]. CDV. Back-mark: Gutekunst, 712 Arch Street, Philadelphia. Very good. Depicts a boy, most likely Langdon Mitchell, in a half-bust portrait.

[MITCHELL, Langdon Elwyn]. CDV. [Circa 1864]. Back-mark: J.E. McClees, 910 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Very good. Depicts Mitchell as a young boy, wearing a dress, in a full-length portrait, seated [same image as p. 14]. Inscription on recto of card reads: “The author of Debora[h].” Inscription in album reads: “Langdon E. Mitchell, 1864 or 5.”

[GAMMELL, Susanne Valentine Mitchell?]. Front-mark: T.W. Taylor, West Chester, PA. Card very slightly trimmed with no appreciable loss, else fine. Penciled inscription in the album reads: “Valentine again, I think.” The girl is perhaps two years older than the infant portrayed in the other CDV identified as Susanne Valentine Mitchell on this same page.

[Page 19]. CABINET CARD depicting unidentified man. Inscription on verso reads: “For dear little `May.’ Dec. 10th, 1874.” Back-mark: Sarony’s, 680 Broadway, NY.

[Page 20]. CABINET CARD depicting unidentified man. Front-mark: Balch, 493 Washington Street, Boston. The subject is perhaps Winthrop Tappan (compare with __ below).

[Page 21]. [MITCHELL, Weir]. CABINET CARD. Circa 1900. Penciled inscription in album reads: “`Uncle’ Weir Mitchell, I think, H.D.” The subject is Weir Mitchell (b. 1892), the first child of Langdon Mitchell and Marion Lea. The inscription was presumably written by Helena Mary Langdon Mitchell Day, another child of Langdon and Marion, or one of her descendents. The photograph is a full-length portrait of Mitchell, at approximately 8 years of age. The identification is supported by the strong resemblance of the subject to the labeled photographs of Weir Mitchell on page [25] of this album.

[Page 22]. TOLAND, Edward Dale. CABINET CARD. 1886. Early inscription on photograph reads: “Edward Dale Toland, Jr. 6 months old, from his Mom.” Back-mark: D. Hinkle, 4673 Main Street, Germantown, PA. Light stain to photograph, not affecting image of subjects; good plus. Hand-tinted (adding color to cheeks). Half-bust portrait of Toland as an infant together with his mother. Edward Dale Toland (1886-1964) wrote anaccount of his service in World War I, The Aftermath of Battle: With the Red Cross in France (1916).

[Page 23]. [LEA, Julia?]. CDV. Back-mark: Wenderoth, Taylor & Brown, 912-914 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Very good plus. Inscription on verso indicates subject is 10 years old. Half-bust portrait of a girl. Her visage is similar to the girl depicted in the labeled CDV of Julia Lea on page [15] of this album.

CABINET CARD depicting three unidentified boys. Back-mark: J.W. Black, 173 Washington St., Boston.

[LEA, Gertrude?]. CDV. Back-mark: Guidi, Via Alfreri No. 8, Firenze [Florence]. Front-mark of photographer’s name. Near fine. Inscription in album reads: “Gertrude Lea probably, later m[arrie]d Wm. Fearing of N.Y.C.” The imputed subject is Gertrude Lea (b. 1851), an elder sister of Marion Lea who married William Henry Fearing in 1874. Photograph is a half-bust portrait of a young woman.

TROTH[?], Bertie. CDV. Tintype photograph. Back-mark: Lothrop’s Photograph and Ferrotype Gallery, 43 North Eighth Street, Philadelphia. Some scratches to photograph, with minimal impact on image of subject’s face; good. Hand-tinted (adding color to cheeks). Early inscription on verso reads: “Bertie Troth[?] given to May Lea, December 1872, I think.” Half-bust portrait of a young boy.

[Page 24]. CDV depicting unidentified woman. Back-mark: Croft, 3 Union Street, Torquay. Frontmark of photographer’s name and city of operation.

[MITCHELL, Langdon Elwyn]. CDV. Circa 1880’s. Back-mark: Hinkle, 4673 Main Street, Germantown, PA. Some very faint soiling, still very good. Half-bust portrait of Mitchell. He is identified in a penciled inscription in the album. This CDV was evidently made from the same sitting as the CDV on page [11] of this album. He is here depicted in the same clothing as the other CDV, in a slightly different pose.

[GAMMELL, Susanne Valentine Mitchell?]. CDV. Back-mark: Phillips’ Photographers, 1206 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Fine. Penciled inscription in album reads: “Sissie.” Full-length portrait of a young girl, apparently the same child as depicted in following entry.

[GAMMELL, Susanne Valentine Mitchell?]. CDV. Slightly trimmed, perhaps with loss of front-mark. Penciled inscription in album reads: “Sissie.” Full-length portrait of young girl. (Same image as fourth item on p. 18.)

[Page 25]. [MITCHELL], Weir. GROUP OF FOUR CARTES-DE-VISITE INSCRIBED BY MARION LEA. 1897. Each card is inscribed by Marion Lea on the verso, “Weir, Bar Harbor, August, 1897,” and signed by her with initials. All of the cards are slightly trimmed, perhaps with loss of front-marks, but otherwise very good plus. Four different images of Weir Mitchell (b. 1892) as a boy. He was the son of Langdon and Marion Lea Mitchell.

[Page 26]. [ROBINSON, Natalie?]. TWO CARTES-DE-VISITE. Each CDV bears the back-mark: H.C. Phillips, 1206 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Some soiling, good only. Inscription in album reads: “Natalie Robinson (Mrs. Harry Boyer), I think.” Two headshot photographs of the same woman, one a portrait, the other in left profile.

[MITCHELL, Langdon Elwyn]. ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH. [Circa 1920’s]. Photograph measures 4.5 x 2.5”. Cropped, with loss to inscription on verso. Remainder of inscription reads: “Rissenwald[?], Sept. 22.” Full-length portrait of Mitchell seated on stairs leading to porch of building, with several unidentified man sitting behind him on the stairs.

[MITCHELL, Marion Lea]. CDV. [Circa 1880’s]. Back-mark: Taylor & Brown, 912- 914 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Very good plus. Depicts Marion Lea as a young woman, half-bust, in profile.

[Page 27]. [MITCHELL], Marion Lea. CABINET CARD. [Circa 1880’s]. Frontmark and back-mark: London Stereoscopic Co., 106 & 108 Regent St. Minor soil to card, not affecting photograph, else near fine. A full-length portrait of Lea as a young woman, seated on a couch. Inscription in album reads: “Marion Lea in costume, one of her Ibsen parts I think. (Helena Mary Langdon Mitchell Day).” The author of the inscription was the third child of Langdon and Marion Lea Mitchell.

[Page 28]. [MITCHELL, Marion Lea]. CABINET CARD. [Circa 1880’s]. Front-mark and back-mark: W. Curtis Taylor, 914 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. A few minor traces ofsoil, but very good or better. Hand-tinted (adding color to lips and cheeks). A head-shot portrait of Marion Lea as a young woman. The initials “M.L.” appear on the verso, perhaps in Lea’s own hand. Another example of this same cabinet card is inserted at the same place in the album, however the card is trimmed close to the photograph with loss of the front-mark.

[Page 29]. CABINENT CARD depicting unidentified man. Back-mark: Barraud, 263 Oxford Street, London and 92 Bold Street, Liverpool.

[Page 30]. [LEA, Julia?]. CABINET CARD. Back-mark: Gutekunst, 712 Arch St., Philadelphia. Corners trimmed, some soiling not affecting image; about very good. Inscription in album reads: “I think this is Julia Lea, aged about 20.” The subject is a young woman depicted half-bust in left profile.

[Page 31]. CDV depicting unidentified woman and two girls. Back-mark: Georges Sommer, Naples. Subjects of this and the following CDV are perhaps members of the Marshall family.

CDV depicting two unidentified girls and two boys. Back-mark: Phillip Graff, Berlin. [Inserted in album behind CDV described in preceding entry].

MARSHALL, Walker Douglas. CDV. 1875. Manuscript back-mark: Edwin D. Smith, 69 East St., Brighton. Very good. Subject identified and photograph dated based on contemporary inscription on verso. Full-length portrait of a boy.

[DAY, Helena Mary Langdon Mitchell and Miles Day]. ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH. [Circa 1924]. Photograph measuring 2.5 x 3.5”. Very good. Inscription in album by Helena Day reads: “Helena Mitchell Day holding Miles on the terrace wall at Hickory Hill, perhaps 1924.” Miles is here seen as a toddler.

[LEA?, “Sissie”]. ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH. Photograph measuring 5 x 2.5”. Cropped to fit album, light stains, good only. Inscription in album reads “Sissie (in her late teens?)” The subject is probably a sister of Marion Lea. See page [24] of this album for two photographs of her as a child.

[Page 32]. [MITCHELL, Langdon Elwyn]. ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH. [Circa 1920]. Photograph measuring 3.5 x 2.5”. Fine. Full-length portrait of Mitchell, seated together with an unidentified man. Penciled inscription in album reads: “Langdon Mitchell about 1913 to 1922.”

TWO CARTES-DE-VISITE depicting an unidentified boy. Back-mark on both: L. Haase & Co., Berlin and Breslau.

[Page 33]. APPIA, S. CDV SIGNED AND INSCRIBED. Inscription on verso reads: “Souvenir d’Amitie. S. Appia a Miss May Lea, 22 April, ’76.” 1876. Front-mark and back-mark: E. Albert, 68 Westbourne Grove, London.

CDV depicting unidentified girl. Front-mark and back-mark: Graf, Berlin.

CDV depicting unidentified young girl. Back-mark: Hanns Hanfstaehgl, Dresden.

[Page 34]. CDV depicting unidentified woman and two children. Back-mark: Hinkle, 4673 Main Street, Germantown, PA.

CDV depicting unidentified man. Inscription on photograph reads: “For my friend, Marion. August 13, ’86.” Back-mark: H.C. Phillips, 1206 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH depicting two identified children. Photograph measuring 1.5 x 1.5”.

ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH depicting an infant. Photograph measuring 4.5 x 2.5”.

[Page 35]. [MITCHELL, Langdon Elwyn?]. CDV. Front-mark and back-mark: A. Duval, Tours. Light scratches to photograph; good plus. Depicts a young man, presumably Langdon Mitchell (see following entry), half bust, in left-profile.

[MITCHELL, Langdon Elwyn?]. CDV. 1878. Back-mark: F. Gutekunst, 712 Arch Street, Philadelphia. Light soiling, minor crease to upper corner of photograph; good. Inscription on verso reads: “Belonging to Marion Lea. A photograph of Alfred Langdon Elwyn Mitchell, Xmas ’78.” The subject is almost certainly Langdon Elwyn Mitchell. The author of the inscription evidently conflated Mitchell’s name with that of his relation by marriage, Alfred Langdon Elwyn. This is another print of the same photograph as appears on p. [6] of this album. The subject is the same as in the CDV described in the preceding entry and both photographs were evidently made during the same sitting. 463) CDV depicting unidentified child. Photograph damped and faded. Back-mark: Kilburn, 222 Regent Street, [London].

[Page 36]. CDV depicting unidentified child. Back-mark: 1415 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

HOLLINGSWORTH, [?]. CABINET CARD SIGNED, trimmed to 4 x 2.5”. Circa 1880. Back-mark: Broadbent & Taylor, 914 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Card trimmed as noted, not affecting image of subject, but with loss of subject’s first name in his signature on the verso. Moderate stains.

[No photographs on page 37].

[Page 38]. [MITCHELL, Langdon Elwyn]. ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH. Circa 1920’s. Hand-stamp of photograph developer on verso: Mack Photo Service, Sante Fe, N.M. Photograph trimmed to 5.5 x 2.5”. Near fine. Full-length portrait of Mitchell, standing, eating a slice of watermelon.

[MITCHELL, Langdon Elwyn]. TWO ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS. Circa 1910’s to 1920’s. Each photograph measures 1.5 x 2” and is mounted on a card measuring 2.5 x 3.5”. One card stained; one photograph faded; else very good.

[Page 39]. MERRITT, Anna Lea “Nany.” CABINET CARD SIGNED AND INSCRIBED. Inscription on verso reads: “To Maydo [ie. Marion Lea] for being a very good girl – with exceptions. From her loving sister Nany. Very truly yours, Anna Lea Merritt. Feb. 3, 1882.” Circa 1882. Photograph a bit faded and marginally toned, still about very good. Inscription in album reads: “Yes, she was the ugly duckling in a family all more or less beautiful. She loved beauty so for its own sake that this caused her some anguish, but her loving heart, sweet temper, resolution, sense of humour, & artistic talent made her a wonderful person & the only one of all those (2 parents, 6 daughters who grew up) with a really stable nervous system.” (See description of Merritt’s CDV on page [1] of this album for biographical information).

[Page 40]. Photograph of a photograph. Caption in album reads: “Robt. V., Emmor K., George V., & Susannah V. Massey (later Mrs. Joseph Lea).” 470) [Page 41]. Photograph of a photograph. Inscription on verso [by Helena Mary Langdon Mitchell Day] reads: “This is G.V.M. II, Susanna Valentine Massey’s (=Mrs. Jos. Lea, Mim’s mother) mother, namely my great-grandmother (maternal-maternal-maternal) whose maiden name was Kimber. Who is the good looking man?” A later inscription answers the question: “It is her husband, Robert V. Massey, and she is Anna (Kimber) Massey.”

[Page 42]. CABINET CARD depicting unidentified woman and her infant. Card trimmed with loss to inscription on verso, a presentation inscription to Marion Lea.

[Page 43]. CDV depicting unidentified man. Front-mark and back-mark: J. Huff, Bad-Homsburg.

CDV depicting unidentified woman. Photographer’s marks same as preceding entry.

[Page 44]. OBLINSKY, Marie. CDV. Back-mark: Hanns Hanfstaengl, Dresden. Some soil to photograph, not affecting image of Oblinsky; good plus. Early inscription on verso reads: “Marie Oblinsky. A young girl at Edliner’s school at Dresden.” She is here depicted half-bust, in profile.

ORIGINAL TINTYPE PHOTOGRAPH depicting unidentified woman (perhaps Marie Oblinsky).

[MITCHELL, Marion Lea and Mary McMurtrie]. CDV INSCRIBED. Inscription on photograph, evidently in Marion Lea’s hand, reads: “Goodbye. 1887. Wishing you a Quick Return.” Circa 1887. Back-mark: Hinkle, 4673, Main Street, Germantown, PA.” Very good. Head-shot portrait of the two women. McMurtrie is identified based on comparison with another example of this CDV in the collection, there labeled in the album.

[No photographs inserted on p. 45]

[Page 46]. CABINET CARD[?], trimmed to CDV size, depicting unidentified infant. Presentation inscription on verso partly obliterated by cropping, remainder reading: “Charles Fearing.” Back-mark: Hargrave & Gubelman, 38 & 40 West 23rd St., New York.

CDV depicting unidentified boy. Trimmed. Back-mark: W.G.C. Kimball, 15 Norman St., Concord, N.H.

CDV depicting unidentified girl. Trimmed. Back-mark: Morse, 417 Montgomery Street, San Francisco.

[Page 47]. CDV depicting unidentified girl. Trimmed. Back-mark: Morse, 417 Montgomery Street, San Francisco.

CDV depicting unidentified woman. Trimmed.

Original photograph depicting unidentified infant. Roughly trimmed.

[Page 48]. [DAY, Miles?]. ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH. Photograph measuring 3 x 2”. Inscription in album reads: “Miles Day, I think. H.D.” Depicts an toddler.

CDV trimmed or CABINET CARD trimmed to CDV size, depicting unidentified woman Back-mark: Julius Ludovic, 889 Broadway, NY.

CABINET CARD trimmed to CDV size depicting unidentified woman. Inscription on verso partly obliterated by cropping, indicates this was presented to A.L. [Anna Lea].

CABINET CARD[?] trimmed to CDV size depicting unidentified woman. Back-mark: Julius Ludovic, 889 Broadway, New York.

undated

MSS 2/241-04 Series 3 Box 3 Folder 2-9, Box 4 Folder 1-2