Auctioned here are two extremely scarce circa 1860s stereoview images of A.E. Alden’s photography studio and horse-drawn cart with advertising on each side. In one of the stereoview images, it appears that Alden is pictured standing to the right side of the cart. Banners advertising “Alden’s Patent Picture’s 6 sizes Photographs Ferrotypes” are visible.
A.E. Alden began making a living as an artist around 1860 and dabbled in photography which was then an early artform. Following the Civil War, Alden opened the Arcade Gallery photographic studio and became a licensed photographer in Troy, New York, eventually winning the exclusive rights for photographing Troy, New York and the general area. His photographic specialty was CDVs (cartes des visite) and he enjoyed the privilege of photographing some of the most important people of the era, including President Abraham Lincoln and poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Antique photographs or stereoviews showing local advertising are fascinating subjects of study and can yield much about local places, business and people of long ago.
If you’re interested in selling an antique Native American photos or collections at auction with us, check out our antique photography consignment page for more information.
