EDWARD S. CURTIS. A Zuni Doorway, 1903. 7.5x5.5" image on 8.9x6.4" copper plate. Plate date 1926. From Volume 17, The Tewa. The Zuni, of The North American Indian. Engraved on plate recto: A Zuni Doorway / From Copyright Photograph 1903 by E.S. Curtis.

To make the photogravure prints from the negative Curtis created a glass positive, that he would edit on and then working with the great photogravure printing companies in Boston, John Andrew & Son that became Suffolk Engraving Company, they made over 2200 copper plates from which the photogravures were to be printed. These plates were then steel faced for small printing runs then refaced, preserving the original image that was etched into the copper plate. Lot 5010 has description of the process. Aesthetically they are brilliant shiny copper almost gold like aesthetic objects on which the image glows; they have sold for as much as $700,000. As opposed the edition of approximately 300 photogravures that were made from each plate and open edition chemical prints Curtis made in his studios these are unique photographic object.

Very Good. Minor scratches, tarnish, dents, abrasions, small dark spots, and ink residue throughout plate surface.