three-plate panorama, salt prints, the center print mounted, title, date, and annotations in ink on the mount, 1855 (James, Crimea 1854-56, pp. 152-3)

This scarce salt print panorama is in generally fair condition. The fine details of this panorama remain strong, from the stones of the demolished buildings to the windows of the dockyards. Grading these rare period salt prints on a scale of 1 to 10 - 10 being a salt print that had deep brown dark tones and highlights that retain all of their original detail - these prints rate a 5. The dark are fairly light and the highlights have yellowed somewhat with age. There are some creases on the joints and on the central print due to the mounting process. There are tears at the extremities of the prints, that are from 3/4- to 2-inch long. The tape on the reverse of the left print is visible on the front of the print. There are scattered deposits of indeterminate nature and small fox marks overall. Fox marks are also visible on the back of the prints and on the mat. The edges and corners are bumped and intermittently chipped. The mount is soiled and age-darkened. The corners are bumped and there is a loss along the upper edge. There is paper remain from a former overmount on the upper left corner of the reverse. The inscription in ink on the mount is as follow: 'Panorama of Sebastopol & Harbour. On the South Side beginning at left, the Dockyard Creek Ravine, the Dockyard, the Funeral, Barracks, Forts Nicholas, Paul, Alexander. At the North Side Fort Constantine, guarding the entrance of the Harbour, Star Fort, Forts Michaels & Catharine, & the platform of Belbec in the background. South Side captured Sept 8th / 55.' 'Robertson' is written several times in an unidentified hand in pencil on the mount and on the reverse. A later gelatin silver reproduction of another photograph by James Robertson has been later glued to the reverse of the mount. Its dimensions are 10 by 12 inches. 'Naval 32 Pounder Battery' is typewritten in the margin.
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 March 1856, the wife of French history painter Jean-Charles Langlois wrote to her husband, 'For some days the photographs of Robertson have been in the stores. Yesterday I went to Giroux to see them; they are about 35 centimetres and three sheets of this size form what they call the panorama of Sebastopol. …. They are selling for ten francs each' (quoted in Luke Gartlan, 'James Robertson and Felice Beato in the Crimea: Recent Findings,' History of Photography, Spring 2005, Vol. 29, No. 1). 

Panoramas of Crimea are scarce. Similar panoramas are in the collections of the National Army Museum in London and the Musée d'Orsay, Paris, from the album Souvenirs d'Orient, 1855-56.