"HOME OF WASHINGTON, MOUNT VERNON, VA." [caption title]; Large Cabinet Card of Exterior Showing Tour Group. "Friend's Excursion.1st Mo. 1889"

About this Item

Original photograph, image 19 x 27 cm., mounted on a backing board, 26 x 34 cm. overall. Sepia tones, slightly faded, tear on board not affecting photo. Chipping on corners of board. Printed below the photo, on the backing board: Washington, D.C: Luke C. Dillon, Office, 935 Penn. Avenue, Pullman's Gallery, [1889]. Photographic view shows the front facade of Mount Vernon and about 38 women, a couple of men, and one boy standing on the front lawn. They might be a group of Quakers from Pennyslvania on a tour, since a scribbled pencil inscription at bottom right reads "Penna. tour" and the verso reads "Friend's Excursion". Another very light pencil inscription has the date "Jan. 29". Luke C. Dillon (NY, ca. 1836) was the official photographer of Mount Vernon from about 1880 to 1890. He maintained an office at 935 Pennsylvania Ave; "Pullman's Gallery". According to Jennifer Kittlaus at Mount Vernon: "Luke Dillon was the first photographer to take photographs of visitors with the mansion as a backdrop. It allowed him to not only sell the image to the people in the photograph but anyone else interested in purchasing an image of Mount Vernon. Because the image was technically of the people and not just the mansion he could keep these profits for himself. His tactics caused much concern for the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association while he was under contract. As the visitors typically arrived by boat during this time period it is likely that they would have stuck together during their time at Mount Vernon. Dillon may have grouped all of them together at once to take a single photograph which he could then reproduce for anyone interested in purchasing a copy.".

Seller Inventory # 67641

Bibliographic Details

• Title: "HOME OF WASHINGTON, MOUNT VERNON, VA." [caption title]; Large Cabinet Card of Exterior Showing Tour Group. "Friend's Excursion.1st Mo. 1889"
• Seller catalogs:
  • Photography
  • Americana
  • Presidents