Friday, February 04, 2011

Portrait CDV Photograph by J.B. Silvis

From: MissMoffett63@aol.com

I have a Silvis Portrait picture with the Train on the back and was wondering where I could go in my area, to see what it may be worth? My parents died when I was young, and my sister-inlaw gave me some VERY old photo's and told me they were my fathers side of the family – thats all I know. Within the photos we came across this Silvis Portrait photo, so we decided to look it up online and came across your [Silvis] website. My fathers family as far as I know was from Millville New Jersey and or Cape May New Jersey, so I wonder how or where this pic was taken. I am located very far away, from where your history says he traveled. ...

—Georgette

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Perhaps a great grandparent travelled out west on the Union Pacific Railroad in the 1880's and had a photo taken in Silvis' rail car photo studio.

Unable to offer an appraisal, but can tell you that only a couple of these small Silvis portraits are typically sold on eBay each year. Some recent auction sale prices for Silvis portrait CDV photographs are: $2.61, $19.50, $49.95, $5.00, $5.00, 3 for $49.00, and $25.00.

Hope that you will treasure your family's photographs, keep them in your family, and pass them down to descendants.

2/04/2011 1:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

From the Biographies of Western Photographers:

SILVIS, J. B.
Operated the Union Pacific Railroad Photograph Car, headquartered in Omaha, 1860-80. Silvis retired to Elkhorn Station after selling his railroad car in 1883. Friend of Arundel Hull, gallery owner in Fremont. Official photographer for the Union Pacific Railroad.

6/09/2015 12:08 PM  

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