2787. (hand colored photograph) Portland Head Lighthouse, Maine . c.1900. Lovely hand colored photograph in original period mat and frame shows a wonderful clear view of the light station and fog signal building jutting out from the rocky shore. The mat is signed “Lamson”. The Lamson Studios were one of the larger Portland studios selling hand-colored photographs around 1900. Like most other early 20th century hand-colored photographers, Lamson Studios followed the lead of Wallace Nutting, Sawyer, Davidson and others, hand coloring their photographic images and selling primarily exterior landscape scenes. Most Lamson images were taken in Maine or northern New England . They are typically characterized by a lighter shade of coloring, with the image mounted upon an indented matting, signed “Lamson” lower right, sometimes titled lower left, and framed within a darker 1/2″ frame. Lamson pictures were always signed “Lamson”, with no first name. It seems that the Lamson Studios were in business for only a few years, perhaps from 1900-1905, based upon the relatively small volume of Lamson pictures that remain in circulation today. They closed their doors in about 1905 after being bought out by the Fred Thompson Art Co., also of Portland Maine . The present lighthouse is the original structure on this location, with a few height changes through the years. There were no lighthouses on the shores of Maine, when merchants petitioned the government in 1784 for a light marking the entrance to Portland Harbor. Nothing was accomplished until 1790 when Congress appropriated the necessary funds. The tower is constructed of rubblestone and was finished and lit on January 10, 1791. Beautiful detail, clean and crisp, this is a fine early image and is nicely hand colored. The image measures about 2” x 3” on 5” x 7” period mat. Original mahogany frame measures 5 ½” x 7 ½”. Overall in quite nice condition, a superb display piece. (VG+). $85.