A Significant Edward Curtis and Curtis Studios Archive. [EDWARD CURTIS & CURTIS STUDIOS, LOS ANGELES]. Correspondence, photographs, carbon copies, business documents, advertising materials, slides of artifacts, newspaper articles, and other related ephemera. Also including a photocopy of the combined 'Curtis Negatives Index,' and photocopies of inventories relating to the Graybill Project. Provenance for the lot: Beth Curtis Magnuson, and her husband Manfred 'Mag' Magnuson; acquired from the preceding by Dr. Billy T. Utley. Highlights include: Carbon Copies and Photocopies 1. Photocopy manuscript: 'Log. Edward S. Curtis. 1927 from Alaska Trip.' Approx. 41pp. (three copies). Photographs 1. Hand-tinted photo[?] of two people in a canoe (presumably Beth and Edward Curtis) 2. Photograph of Mag Magnuson 3. Two photographs of Beth, Mag, and Edward Curtis 4. A group of 38 photographs (presumably modern printings), along with another group of 7 labeled 'Duplicates from Alaska Series' 5. 'Documentary Photo Aids': 32 sepia-toned modern printings of Curtis's images on card with captions Advertising and Ephemera 1. A binder labeled 'Mags Prints,' comprising advertising material for portrait and wedding photography, and Magnuson family Christmas cards. 2. 'First Americans' pamphlet 3. 'Curtis Indians' 6-page pamphlet stapled into wrappers (4) 4. Reproduction of Curtis Studio Frame Label - Seattle Washington 5. 1pp. carbon copy typescript bio of Edward Curtis by his daughter Florence Curtis Graybill 6. Exhibition catalogue: 'Rodman Wanamaker Indian Pictures' 1913 7. 6 modern Curtis calendars 8. Folder including an address change announcement printed on onionskin; 'Curtis Home of the Curtis Indians At Home and Studio Portraiture The Curtis Studio 4th at University Seattle Wash. U.S.A.' Three versions of an ad (possibly printed later?), one with some coloring by hand. Correspondence 1. A binder labeled 'Misc Curtis Correspondence,' comprising photocopies of typed and manuscript correspondence, most from Edward S. Curtis. 2. A binder labeled 'Mags Correspondence,' comprising photocopies of typed correspondence from Manford 'Mag' Magnuson 3. A binder labeled 'Curtis & Mag,' comprising photocopies of correspondence and other typescripts. Inventories 1. Photocopy of the only known combined 'Curtis Negative Index' that Dr. Billy T. Utley was aware of, comprising 150pp. of most known Curtis negatives, including the name and number of most Curtis negatives. (See note below.) 2. Handwritten inventory of Curtis Studios negatives, 29pp total (including 14 hand-written primarily on one side with a few scant notes on the verso and 15 blanks), in a '3 Columnar Book.' 3. 6pp. typescript appraisals of some material in the Curtis Studios collection. 4. 3pp. handwritten inventory: 'North American Indians by E. S. Curtis Negatives in File 1970.' 5. Photocopy of 'Records' book of 6x8 views with index tabs by nation. 6. Photocopy of 'Jim Graybill's Inventory List' and 'Records' book of large views 7. Photocopy of printed indices of The North American Indian 8. Photocopy of 'Records' book of large views and photocopy of 'Records' book of 6x8 views 9. A binder of slides of Curtis artifacts Business Documents 1. A group of 4 Curtis Studios Leases: Los Angeles, Biltmore Company, August 20, 1923, signed by Beth Curtis, M. E. Magnuson, and the Resident Manager, carbon copy typescript, 10pp., stapled at the top into tan coversheet; Los Angeles, April 30 1925, carbon copy typescript signed by Resident Manager and Beth Curtis, 2pp., stapled at the top; Los Angeles, October 1 1925, carbon copy typescript signed by Resident Manager, 1p.; Los Angeles, The Higgins Estate, May 5 1936, signed by Beth Curtis, M. E. Magnuson, and the President and Secretary of the estate, carbon copy typescript, 13pp., with embossed stamp of Edward S. Curtis Studios, stapled at the top into blue coversheet. Note about Combined 'Curtis Negative Index': Edward Curtis kept a 'Large Views' negative index to record 11x14 negatives when he was using a larger-size camera. He eventually switched to an 8x10 camera, which was his preferred size for many years. When 6x8 film was introduced to the market, Curtis switched again, and created a new negative index he called the 'Small Views' negative index. Eventually, Beth Curtis organized the two negative indices into a combined index. The Smithsonian Institute holds the original logbooks. The logbooks comprise ledger sheets hand-numbered in upper corner 1 through 150 (with an additional leaf labeled 40a inserted, and with a sheet numbered 13/14 missing). All numbered sheets include entries except for 6 which are blank (except for their manuscript page number). Also included are 5 typescript sheets with a few holograph annotations. A significant archive, maintained by Beth Curtis and her husband Manford 'Mag' Magnuson relating to Edward Curtis's work, and the workings of his Curtis Studios in Los Angeles. Lot to be sold without reserve. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ¤ ¤ Unless indicated by the ¤ symbol next to the lot number (or bearing an explicit statement such as 'No Reserve' or 'Without Reserve'), which denotes no reserve, all lots in the catalog are subject to a reserve. The reserve is the minimum hammer price that the seller is willing to accept for a lot. This amount is confidential and does not exceed the low estimate value. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing
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