Upton, Benjamin F. (1818-1910), attrib. Photograph of the Minnesota State Fair in Fort Snelling.
Upton, Benjamin F. (1818-1910), attrib.
Photograph of the Minnesota State Fair in Fort Snelling.
8 3/4 x 6 1/4 in. albumen photograph on 12 x 10 in. cardstock mount documenting the second official Minnesota State Fair, which was held inside the walls of Fort Snelling in 1860. The image is displayed under a mat with typed caption affixed to lower margin, which incorrectly dates the scene to 1858 (toning and occasional soiling to print and mount, few short tears to edges of print). Uncredited, but originally taken by Benjamin F. Upton and published by Edward A. Bromley. Possibly a period copy image, printed ca late 1860s or 1870s.
RARE: The earliest known photograph of the Minnesota State Fair. The image captures the parade grounds and commandant's house at Fort Snelling during a brief period when the decommissioned fort was privately owned by businessman Franklin Steele. Following a sparsely attended inaugural fair in Minneapolis in 1859 due to economic hardships, the 1860 fair proved to be a far greater success. However, the event was halted until 1863 because of the outbreak of the Civil War and the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, which prompted the army to reclaim Fort Snelling as a military base. (Information obtained from the Hennepin County Library website.)
Benjamin Franklin Upton began as a daguerreotypist in Maine between 1844-1851, then started working around the Minneapolis, St. Anthony, and Saint Paul areas of Minnesota, during the 1850s-1860s. He is best known for his portraits of the Dakota Indians imprisoned at Fort Snelling after the 1862 conflict.
This lot is located in Chicago.
Upton, Benjamin F. (1818-1910), attrib.
Photograph of the Minnesota State Fair in Fort Snelling.
8 3/4 x 6 1/4 in. albumen photograph on 12 x 10 in. cardstock mount documenting the second official Minnesota State Fair, which was held inside the walls of Fort Snelling in 1860. The image is displayed under a mat with typed caption affixed to lower margin, which incorrectly dates the scene to 1858 (toning and occasional soiling to print and mount, few short tears to edges of print). Uncredited, but originally taken by Benjamin F. Upton and published by Edward A. Bromley. Possibly a period copy image, printed ca late 1860s or 1870s.
RARE: The earliest known photograph of the Minnesota State Fair. The image captures the parade grounds and commandant's house at Fort Snelling during a brief period when the decommissioned fort was privately owned by businessman Franklin Steele. Following a sparsely attended inaugural fair in Minneapolis in 1859 due to economic hardships, the 1860 fair proved to be a far greater success. However, the event was halted until 1863 because of the outbreak of the Civil War and the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, which prompted the army to reclaim Fort Snelling as a military base. (Information obtained from the Hennepin County Library website.)
Benjamin Franklin Upton began as a daguerreotypist in Maine between 1844-1851, then started working around the Minneapolis, St. Anthony, and Saint Paul areas of Minnesota, during the 1850s-1860s. He is best known for his portraits of the Dakota Indians imprisoned at Fort Snelling after the 1862 conflict.
This lot is located in Chicago.
