“Gipsy” Smith (center–holding a puppy) was an English born Romani who became a well known evangelist. He traveled to America many times in his lifetime. This photograph was made in Pittsburgh in 1909.

A couple of notes on this image: This file was created from a print, not a glass plate negative as were most of the other images in this exhibit. If you view my print at Shaw Galleries you will see the difference in image quality. There is a lack of detail contrast and edge definition, and the paper surface is part of the image. Because of the paper presence in the image I think this might have been a platinum print.

Also this image is very likely wrong reading (mirrored–flopped horizontally). I say that because the text was scribed into the emulsion of the glass plate. If the plate were printed correctly (emulsion to the paper) the text would be wrong reading. Lastly, you can see evidence of the glass plate in the upper and lower right corners where the glass has been chipped.

This image will be a print in the coming exhibit of historic images of Pittsburgh. The images are from several sources, this one from the Library of Congress. The photographer is unknown but the print is from the Detroit Publishing Company. All prints are contemporary archival pigment prints on 100% cotton rag paper.

Arrangements for the receptions are being handled by Sasha Williams. I am curating, processing the files, and making the exhibition prints. Matting, framing, and the venue for the exhibit is Shaw Galleries    http://www.shawgalleries.com     805 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh. The show will be up from Tuesday, April 1, through Friday, April 25, 2014. The opening reception is Friday, April 4, and the closing reception is Friday April 25 during the Pittsburgh Gallery Crawl. I hope to see you there!