[Rarebooks] FS: New Jersey & New York--large photo album, ca. 1890

[Bob Petrilla]

New Jersey & New York State / Wright, Crosby M. ARCHIVE OF 237 ALBUMEN
PHOTOGRAPHS, TAKEN BY WRIGHT TO DOCUMENT HIS CIRCA-1890 VOYAGES BY SAILBOAT
AND PEREGRINATIONS ON FOOT, ALONG THE NEW JERSEY COAST AND UP THE HUDSON
RIVER Intended to document his unpublished (and unknown) manuscript, "Out
of the Beaten Track."  Norristown, PA, circa 1890.  The 237 finely executed
albumen photographs (each measuring about 3 by 4 inches) are neatly mounted
on rectos of 37 large quarto leaves (very heavy stock boards, measuring 14
by 11 inches). The 37 leaves are housed in two custom paper chemises, each
titled in Crosby M. Wright’s neat ink holograph: “234 [237] Pictures Taken
for OUT OF THE BEATEN TRACK by Crosby M. Wright....”  Included are: views
of the Monmouth Beach Lifesaving Station and crew; fishing fleets; a
captured white whale; ice harvesting; an offshore shipwreck; drying fish;
spinning and weaving; views of the Jersey Shore and Atlantic City
lighthouses; windmills; canal locks; local characters and children;
numerous views of the New Jersey coast; &c. ~~

Moving up the Hudson River:  Depicted in one photograph is a man in
snowshoes.  Several images include Dutch houses (based on roof lines) and
Dutch barns.  Images of two or more windmills might suggest Staten Island
or somewhere up the Hudson River.  The long wooden bridge in one view might
be across the Hudson.  Several canal locks and barges are shown (Delaware
and Raritan Canal? Morris Canal?).  Several views show low falls in a
river, possibly the Delaware River, a bit above Trenton.  The
ice-harvesting images could be from New Jersey or Pennsylvania side of the
Delaware River.  Views of people living in cabins reflect the 1890s era of
life along waterways in the eastern states.

On the whole, the 237 photographs, mounted on 37 numbered boards, are in
excellent condition, with sharp focus and good contrast. Although a few
photos have faded over time, most of them represent an impressive
production by a skilled 19th-century photographer and adventurer.

The photographer, Crosby Morton Wright, was a wealthy amateur. He was born
January 12, 1847 to Ellen E. and William M. Wright. In the 1867-68
Philadelphia Directory, Crosby is listed as a plumber living at 509 S. 9th
Street. By 1880, the city directory lists Crosby M. Wright as living at
1419 Arch Street, without an occupation. In the 1892 city directory, Crosby
is again listed as living at 1419 Arch Street with no occupation. In the
1880s and 1890s the family also appears in Philadelphia’s Blue Book.
Crosby’s father dies between 1892 and 1893 when his mother Ellen is listed
in the directory as the widow of William and living with Crosby M. at 1419
Arch Street. By 1910, Crosby has married Fanny D, a woman 22 years his
junior, and has a daughter. He lives at 2405 Bryn Mawr Avenue in
Philadelphia with his family, a cook, a gardener, and a housekeeper. Under
"occupation," the census-taker wrote “own income.” No occupation is listed
for Crosby in the 1920 census. He died on August 11th of that year, and is
buried at Westminster Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd. $600.00

Postpaid in US.  Usual trade terms.

Images of this album may be seen here:

https://www.petrillabooks.com/pages/books/037968/new-jersey-crosby-m-new-york-state-wright/archive-of-237-albumen-photographs




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