albumen print, mounted to an album leaf, circa 1858, printed circa 1870; accompanied by the original waxed paper negative (2)

This albumen print is clean and in generally excellent condition. On a scale of 1 to 10 – a 10 being an albumen print that has deep near-black dark tones and highlights that retain all of their original detail – this print rates an 8. The darks are gradations of chocolate and the highlights are creamy. There is minor fading at the extreme right edge and at the lower left corner. Upon very close examination, a few tiny deposits of retouching, likely original, are visible overall. The print is mounted to a thin album leaf with gilt edges. It exhibits a gentle wave at the edges. There are small tears, losses, and creases at the periphery of the mount, as well as a few faint foxmarks. ‘55’ and other pencil notations are in the corners of the mount. There is minor soiling and some foxmarks on the reverse of the mount. The negative is unevenly trimmed, and there are a few small tears at the edges. There is creasing overall, including a 3-inch crease along the lower edge, which does not detract in any way from the exceptional visual impact of this unique negative. Tiny deposits of original retouching are visible overall.
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.

Captain Horatio Ross of Rossie Castle, Aberdeenshire, achieved distinction as a pioneer amateur photographer and an outstanding sportsman.  A member of Parliament for Aberdeen in 1832-34, he was attracted to the new medium of photography in the 1840s and worked first with the daguerreotype process.  By the late 1840s, he had turned his attention to the paper negative process and rapidly mastered it.  In 1856 Ross became a founding member and Vice President of the Photographic Society of Scotland and was a frequent exhibitor. Ross is perhaps best remembered today for his deer-stalking images and pastoral landscapes of the Scottish Highlands. 

This photograph comes originally from a large album compiled in 1870 by Justine Ross, wi𝐆fe of 💛the photographer.