The "Caractors" from the Gold Plates, Part I of 19th Century

[_grindael]

http://mormonitemusings.com/2013/08/30/ ... ld-plates/

This is Part I of “19th Century Photo of Joseph Smith’s ‘Caractors’ Found”.

[_The Erotic Apologist]

Excellent! I look forward to reading it.

Is there a link to the 1867 image of David Whitmer that's mentioned in your blog?

[_The Erotic Apologist]

This image of Oliver Cowdrey, from grindael's article, is neither a print from a wet collodion negative, nor from a dry gelatin image. It is a daguerreotype, considered by some to be the most challenging and aesthetic photographic medium of all. Traditional daguerreotypy is extremely dangerous and often fatal, due to the fact that the exposed plate must be developed with hot mercury vapor.

This particular image was struck by James Pressley Ball, an African-American daguerreotypist who learned the process in 1845.

[_grindael]

EA,

Here it is, I'll add the link to the article, thanks (that is why I need feedback)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/claycounty ... 9435838298

And here is another, of an even older David,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/claycounty ... 9435838298

[_grindael]

EA,

Looking at the Cowdery Dag, and then looking at the famous Joseph Smith dag, it is obvious to me that it is only a dag of a painting of Joseph. The differences are striking.

[_The Erotic Apologist]

Thanks!

[_The Erotic Apologist]

EA,

Looking at the Cowdery Dag, and then looking at the famous Joseph Smith dag, it is obvious to me that it is only a dag of a painting of Joseph. The differences are striking.

If I recall correctly, Joseph Smith's son said that particular image was a heavily retouched albumin print made from a glass negative (wet? dry? who knows...) copy of a painting done during the Nauvoo period. So, it's probably not a reliable representation of what Joseph Smith Jr looked like.

I'm a bit surprised that no one's turned up an authentic Joseph Smith daguerreotype, yet. You'd think a charismatic, outgoing guy like him would have had at least several daguerreotypes made.

The image quality of your average daguerreotype was quite good, such as this one from the late 1840's...

[_grindael]

I think there are dags out there, but I think they have been suppressed.

[_The Erotic Apologist]

I think there are dags out there, but I think they have been suppressed.

If there's a postmortem daguerreotype out there, taken after he was killed, I can certainly see that being kept from public view.

What I'd like to see is a daguerreotype of the Angel Moroni.