a full plate Daguerreotype of ‘The Two Sisters’ by an unknown photographer
Toronto. Bill Belier’s column, “A Treasure From My Collection” was always a favourite column for members. In issue 25-5, Bill switched from hardware to images with a fine article on Bill Kantymir and his images. Bill and his son John were eclectic collectors of photographica and a regular at our fairs and auctions.
This article discusses Bill’s full plate Daguerreotype of two sister and a half plate Ambrotype of one of the sisters and her husband.
Bill’s column begins, “It is a pleasure, this month [March 2000], to introduce a change of pace and to focus on collectibles outside the hardware category. To this end, I asked Bill Kantymir, one of our most dedicated members, to bring me up-to-date on his collection of images which I understand is second only to his extensive collection of cameras and accessories with which I am more familiar.
“The topic of images embraces far too many variations to cover in a short article so I asked Bill to tell us something about his passion for daguerreotypes and his quest for the images that ushered in the dawn of photography.
“The timing for this article seemed appropriate too, as this issue of P.C. coincides with the visit (April 19 [2000]) of our guest speaker, Matthew Isenberg of Hadlyme, Connecticut, one of America’s leading daguerreian collectors who returns during our Anniversary year to lecture on his extensive collection of images and artifacts.
“Bill was already an avid collector of photographica before he and his wife, Henny, joined the P.H.S.C. in 1981. Later, their son John, would catch the ‘bug’ to make it a family affair. Originally from Toronto, Bill moved to Port Colborne upon graduation from UofT to pursue a career as a metallurgist with the International Nickel Co.
“Now, Port Colborne just happens to be one of many small Ontario communities in the historic Niagara Peninsula just minutes away from the Niagara River which forms the international boundary between Ontario and that part of northern New York State. The entire area on both sides of the border attracted early settlement and is a treasure trove for historians.
“The Canadian side is considered Loyalist territory, largely populated by the descendants of families who, loyal to the Crown, moved north following the American revolution in 1776.” …
Members read all of this especially interesting column in the 25-5 pdf file on the free members-only DVD/thumb drive. See above and at right to join or renew. Address any questions to member@phsc.ca.
