(self-published, 1903), an album comprising 89 mounted platinum prints, 1899-1902. Folio, leather with gilt-embossed cover; accompanied by 10 unmounted photographs, 7 signed, titled, dated, or annotated in pencil on the reverse, and 6 leaves with manuscript captions in ink (one album, 10 photographs, and 6 leaves)

The prints in this album, on warm-toned matte-surface paper, are in generally excellent condition. The prints are generally clean and retain a great deal of detail and tonality. Very occasional minor foxing and light brown staining are visible on a few of the prints. The photographs are affixed singly or multiply to grey album leaves. Some photographs are separating at edges from the leaves. The leather album is rubbed at its extremities and along the spine.
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.

In the mid-1890s, as an agent for the Overman Wheel Company in Denver, Sumner Matteson sold and experimented with the whole line of Kodak cameras and film, producing 'Colorado Snaps,' a photographic advertising campaign featuring Overman Wheel’s Victor bicycles.  In 1898, Matteson devoted himself to the life of a roving photographer, and over the next decade traveled more than 25,000 miles, often on his Victor Safety No. 3 bicycle, producing over 10,000 photographs of the changing American West.  Matteson lectured and published extensively, with credited photographs in The Cosmopolitan, Outing, The Pacific Monthly, Country Life in America, and Leslie’s Weekly.

Matteson photographed the Hopi Snake and Flute dances in northeastern Arizona as early as 1900, documenting every element of the ceremo🧸ny.  He also captured the Hopi people unguarded at home, work, and in the field hunting.  In 1903, Matteson presented an album of 198 photographs, similar to the album offered here, to Frank Klepetko, a noted engineer and authority on smelting.  This album is now in the Collection of Western Americana at Yale’s Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.