O Say Can You See : American Photographs 1839-1939

A very impressive selection of photographs from 1839 to 1939. I would have given it 5 stars, if not for the choice of putting a naked woman next to a phallic object or a glazing man as a mirror photograph twice in the book. Very useful biographical section for each photographer at the end of the book.


Probably James Forten, Unknown, Daguerreotype, ca. 1840


Black and White Hands on a Prayer Book, attrib. to Albert Sands Soutworth and Josiah Johnson Hawes, Daguerreotype button, ca. 1847


Cape Horn, Near Celilo by Carleton Watkins, Albumen print, 1867


Black Canyon, Arizona, Wheeler Survey by Timothy O'Sullivan, Albumen print, 1871


First Aerial Photo of New York, from Balloon, by James H. (Jimmy) Hare, Silver print, 1906


Society Ladies at Annual Horse Show, Newport, R. I. by Underwood and Underwood, Silver print, 1913


Pigeons in Flight by Francis Blake, Platinium print, ca. 1888


Man on Bicycle by Francis Blake, Platinium print, ca. 1888


The Wedding by Gertrude Kasebier, Platinum print, 1899


The Red Man by Gertrude Kasebier, Gum over platinum, 1901-1902


Summertime by Gertrude Kasebier, Platinum on tissue, sepia toned, ca. 1910


Pen Station, New York, by Dr. Drahomir Joseph Ruzicka, Silver print, 1919


Roebling Steel by Maurice Bratter, Palladium print, ca. 1930


Glass Abstraction by Grancel Fitz, Silver print, 1929


The Ice Box by Grancel Fitz, Silver print, ca. 1928


Dust Storm, Cimarron County by Arthur Rothstein, Silver print, 1936