albumen print, mounted to stiff red-bordered card, titled and dated in ink on the mount, framed, 1883

Sotheꦆby's New York, 31 October 🔥1989, Sale 5921, Lot 58

Grading this albumen print on a scale of one to 10 – a 10 being an albumen print with rich chocolate-colored dark tones and highlights that retain all of their original detail – this print rates a 7. It is uniformly light overall; this may not be the result of fading, the photograph may simply have been printed light. There is some unevenness in the print's surface in the sky area, visible only in raking light. These issues do not have a seriously negative impact upon the overall pleasing appearance of this print.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

France's gift of a statue symbolizing liberty was completed and presented to Amꦗerica in 1883.  Sculptor Auguste Bartholdi designed the figure, and engineer Gustave Eiffel devised the massive statue's interior structure to support her thick skin of hammered copper.  Fernique, an engineer as well as a photographer, documented the construction of the statue.