HB-. Herbert Bamber Collection of the United States Lighthouse Establishment c.1892
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HB-. Herbert Bamber Collection of the United States Lighthouse Establishment c.1892
The original photographs from which these negatives were made, were taken by Herbert Bamber, a civil engineer for the US Light-House Establishment during the period 1880-1910. Mr. Bamber supervised construction of many light stations across the country including Mosquito Inlet Light in Florida . During the period 1892-93, Mr. Bamber traveled the entire country surveying and photographing the light stations for the LH Establishment files. The original photos that he took are today in the National Archives and you can see many reproduced in lighthouse references. However, Mr. Bamber made an extra print of each photograph for his own files and these photographs were found in his barn in the Midwest a few years ago. These were original photographs, hand printed at the lighthouse location in 1892-93. You will note that many of these views show the keeper or his family posed, as photographers were somewhat rare and special.
These rare early views were from a process known as cyanotype, named for one chemical, cyan, that is used, thus the blue/white coloring rather than the traditional black/white. Most photographs printed in this manner show considerable detail. The process was commonly used in the field, and by amateurs at home during the period 1880-1920 because of its relative ease compared to other chemical processes.
We re-photographed the entire collection and offer here the large format copy negatives made from his photographs. Negatives measure 2 ¼” x 3” and show great detail of the light towers, buildings and in many cases the keepers and their families.
We also have 8×10 some prints made from many of these negatives.
Regarding the following stations, we have the below listed negatives available:
Isle of Shoals, NH. 1 negatives available $35.
Little River Light, ME. 1 negatives available $35.
Avery’s Rock, ME. 2 negatives available $70.
Nash Island Light, ME. 3 negatives available $105.
Petit Manan Light, ME. 2 negatives available $70.
Ship Island, MS. 2 negatives available $70.
- Pascagopula, MS. 3 negatives available $105.
Round Island, MS. 2 negatives available $70.
Horn Island, MS. 2 negatives available $70.
Morris Island, SC. 11 negatives available $385.
Fort Sumpter, SC. 3 negatives available $105.
Bull’s Bay, SC. 5 negatives available $175.
Cape Romain, SC. 9 negatives available $315.
Georgetown, SC. 4 negatives available $140.
Oak Island, SC. 5 negatives available $175.
Cape Fear, NC. 4 negatives available $140.
Cape Lookout, NC. 3 negatives available $105.
Ocracoke, NC. 2 negatives available $70.
Cape Hatteras, NC. 8 negatives available $280.
Body’s Island, NC. 5 negatives available $175.
Currituck Beach, NC. 5 negatives available $175.
Superior Pier Light, MI. 2 negatives available $70.
Duluth, MN. 4 negatives available $140.
Two Harbors, MN. 4 negatives available $140.
Devils Island, WI. 4 negatives available $140.
Outer Island, WI. 5 negatives available $175.
Port Washington, WI. 4 negatives available $140.
Point Loma, CA. 8 negatives available $280.
Ballast Point, CA. 6 negatives available $210.
Point Fermin, CA. 5 negatives available $175.
Point Hueneme, CA. 4 negatives available $140.
Santa Barbara, CA. 4 negatives available $140.
Point Conception, CA. 7 negatives available $245.
Piedras Blancas, CA. 3 negatives available $105.
Point Sur, CA. 5 negatives available $175.
Point Pinos, CA. 7 negatives available $245.
Trinidad Head, CA. 2 negatives available $70.
Cape Mendicino, CA. 1 negatives available $35.
Cape Flattery, WA. 2 negatives available $70.
Ediz Hook, WA. 2 negatives available $70.
New Dungeness, WA. 2 negatives available $70.
Smith’s Island, WA. 2 negatives available $70.
Turn Point Fog Signa, WA. 2 negatives available $70.
Patos Island, WA. 2 negatives available $70.
Admiralty Head, WA. 2 negatives available $70.
Point Robinson, WA. 3 negatives available $105.
Willapa Bay, WA. 2 negatives available $70.
Discounts available for quantity purchases – please inquire.