15th Jul, 2025 11:00
Photographs, Optical Toys & Science
Platt D. Babbitt Daguerreotype, Niagara Falls
Platt, D. Babbitt, half-plate daguerreotype, bound under heavy brass mask, stamped to bottom left corner 'BABBITT N. FALLS' in leather frame with mounting hook, image inside mask 12cm x 8.5cm
Platt D. Babbitt (1822–1879), born May 22 in Lanesborough, Massachusetts, was an early pioneering daguerreotypist celebrated for his evocative images of Niagara Falls. After opening a gallery on Ridout Street in London, Ontario, in November 1850, he soon relocated across the border. By 1853, Babbitt had established a pavilion overlooking the Falls, selling daguerreotypes and ambrotypes to the steady stream of tourists (en.wikipedia.org).
In 1854, he secured exclusive access to Prospect Point on the American side—often fending off rival photographers—to capture majestic seasonal views and portraits of visitors against the roaring backdrop. His use of whole plates rendered astonishing detail: mist, ice, and foam appear vividly real.
Babbitt’s influence is enduring: his works are held in the George Eastman Museum, J. Paul Getty Museum, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. His craft not only documented tourist culture but elevated landscape photography within the mid‑19th century visual arts.
Sold for £3,750
Result including buyers premium
Platt, D. Babbitt, half-plate daguerreotype, bound under heavy brass mask, stamped to bottom left corner 'BABBITT N. FALLS' in leather frame with mounting hook, image inside mask 12cm x 8.5cm
Platt D. Babbitt (1822–1879), born May 22 in Lanesborough, Massachusetts, was an early pioneering daguerreotypist celebrated for his evocative images of Niagara Falls. After opening a gallery on Ridout Street in London, Ontario, in November 1850, he soon relocated across the border. By 1853, Babbitt had established a pavilion overlooking the Falls, selling daguerreotypes and ambrotypes to the steady stream of tourists (en.wikipedia.org).
In 1854, he secured exclusive access to Prospect Point on the American side—often fending off rival photographers—to capture majestic seasonal views and portraits of visitors against the roaring backdrop. His use of whole plates rendered astonishing detail: mist, ice, and foam appear vividly real.
Babbitt’s influence is enduring: his works are held in the George Eastman Museum, J. Paul Getty Museum, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. His craft not only documented tourist culture but elevated landscape photography within the mid‑19th century visual arts.
Auction: Photographs, Optical Toys & Science, 15th Jul, 2025
