Details:

Lewis Morris original period silver print photograph. 

This photograph of Lewis Morris is an original period silver print from the collection of Frederick Hill Meserve, dating circa 1913 or earlier.  It was part of a full volume of photographs produced by Meserve, nearly all of which are direct glass plate negative contact prints. The photograph measures 2.125 x 3.25 inches and is set into the original paper frame, with corners set into slits, making it removable. The paper frame, approximately 2.5 x 4 inches, features an original annotation in the lower border, written in pencil by Meserve.

Fine condition.

Lewis Morris

Lewis Morris (January 23, 1833 - November 12, 1907 ) was an English poet and academic, notable for his contributions to Victorian poetry and his advocacy for Welsh culture and education. Born in Carmarthen, Wales, he studied at Oxford University and later became a prominent barrister. Morris gained literary acclaim with works such as "Songs of Two Worlds" (1872-1874), "The Epic of Hades" (1876), and "Gwen: A Drama in Monologue" (1879), which were praised for their lyrical quality and philosophical depth. His poetry often explored themes of nature, spirituality, and human experience. Morris was also actively involved in public life, campaigning for educational reforms and the establishment of the University of Wales, where he served as a senior official. Despite not achieving enduring fame, his efforts in promoting Welsh literature and education left a significant legacy in Welsh cultural history.

Frederick H. Meserve

Born in 1865, Frederick H. Meserve was the son of William Neal Meserve, a Civil War veteran. He began collecting Civil War era photographs in the 1890s to illustrate his father's war diary. Meserve became a prominent collector and historian of photographs from this era, especially photographs of Abraham Lincoln. He later collaborated with historian Carl Sandburg to publish "The Photographs of Abraham Lincoln" in 1944.

Meserve was not only a collector of Civil War photographs but also acquired entire contents of photography studios, including those of Matthew Brady, Sarony, and Nadar. In 1913, he made four sets of his photographs, mostly printed from the original negatives, at a cost of $413 (equivalent to approximately $9500 today). These sets were made for The Morgan Library, The New York Historical Society, and eventually, Harvard. Various smaller groups of images were issued over time, but only these four large sets of his photographs exist, all mounted and described in Meserve's hand on folio pages.

Provenance: This particular photograph comes from one of those four full sets and was produced prior to March 17, 1913. The original collection included the typed letter providing payment to Meserve from Charles W. Turner & Co., Charles Turner, N.Y. Stock Exchange dated March 17, 1913.

Authentication:
Includes a full letter of authenticity from JG Autographs, Inc.

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Reference sku: 11617 1396169-1