U of S | Mailing List Archive | alt-photo-process-l | RE: mammoth-plate albumen print Alexander Gardner

RE: mammoth-plate albumen print Alexander Gardner


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  • Subject: RE: mammoth-plate albumen print Alexander Gardner
  • From: Robert Young <rwybeaker@hotmail.com>
  • Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:39:14 -0500
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Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:45:44 +0200
From: henk.thijs@hetnet.nl
Subject: mammoth-plate albumen print Alexander Gardner
To: alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca

Dear List,
Received SOTHEBY's auction results with the above mentioned image for 37.500 USDollar.
Obviously 'mammoth' stands for formats like 40x50 cm , never heard the expression before in that sense.


Cheers,
Henk


It is my understanding that "mammoth" plate cameras are those 20" x 24" (50 x 61 cm) and larger.  More of a class size than a specific format.  However, according to an older edition of the Focal Encyclopedia of Photography, at one time any plate larger than 10 x 12 was considered to be "mammoth".  Google can bring up some amazing stuff sometimes.

Carlton Watkins used a mammoth camera to photograph Yosemite in last quarter of the 19th century.  Wanna haul that beast around on a bunch of beasts of burden?

Rob