A large collection of early stereo-microphotographs produced by an accomplished South Australian amateur photographer
North Adelaide, The Photographer, [circa 1905].
A collection of 87 stereo-microphotographs, comprising original gelatin silver photographs, with the pairs of images (printed as one plate, approximately 65 × 120 mm) mounted on stiff card (approximately 88 × 178 mm, in various shades of grey). There are 21 with printed labels (captioned 'Wm. P. Dollman, John St., N. Adelaide, S. Aus.') with numbered manuscript captions (the numbers range from 2 to 228); there are 14 with unnumbered manuscript captions on plain labels; the remaining 52 are on plain cards. There are only six duplicates (and none of them are an identical matching pair).
Minimal signs of age and use; overall, in excellent condition.
The literature on the photographic history of Australia is singularly quiet on the life and work of William Parmeter Dollman (1846-1908). He is not to be found in Davies and Stanbury, or Photohistory SA (the pioneering research work of Robert Noye, now on the website of the Art Gallery of South Australia). However, he was definitely recognised in his own time. His obituary appears in the 'Evening Journal' on 7 October 1908: 'The death is announced, from heart failure at the age of 63, of Mr. William Parmeter Dollman, of North Adelaide. The deceased gentleman came to South Australia from England in 1853, and for about 30 years had been in the service of the proprietors of "The Register" and its associated journals as a printer and reader. He was sub-overseer of the newsroom for several years, but relinquished that position to return to the reading room. Mr. Dollman was held in the highest respect for his integrity and ability, and was much esteemed by his intimate friends. He was a member of the microscopical section of the Royal Society, and conducted a great deal of microscopical research. He was an authority on the instrument itself, a student of electricity, and a skilful photographer'. We have traced a number of newspaper references to his photography, not least in a list of prize-winners in connection with the 14th annual exhibition of the SA Society of Arts, reported in the 'South Australian Register' on Thursday 15 December 1870. 'Six entirely untouched stereoscopic views ... [by] W.P. Dollman' were awarded a cash prize of £1 1s. Given that the other prize-winners in the photography section were Bernard Goode and Townsend Duryea, this is high praise indeed. An article by Dollman appeared in the 'Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society' in June 1906: 'A Simple Method of producing Stereo-Photomicrographs [sic]' (3 pages plus a full-page illustration of one of the stereo-microphotographs present in this collection, 'Polyzoa (Idmonea radians)'). It was 'Read February 21, 1906'. Dollman states 'I have made a hobby of stereoscopic photography since 1865, and as well have handled many Microscopes, optical work being always an attraction to me. Some twelve or more months ago a friend called my attention to an article on stereo-photomicrography in the "British Journal of Photography Almanac" for 1894, by the then-editor ... who therein explained several methods of producing stereograms of microscopic objects. I adopted what I thought the simplest method, that of obscuring by a semicircular shield half of the objective in use.... A good deal of my apparatus is makeshift - that is, diverted from other uses - but is effectual. My optical outfit is the best, both in low and high powers, condensers, etc.'. In addition to the 87 stereo-microphotographs, there is a stereophotograph captioned on a plain label 'Photo-microscopic Apparatus', depicting an impressive set-up in Dollman's studio, as described in the journal article. This card, and two others with hand-written captions on plain labels, have the following inscription in ink on the verso: 'Not for competition. Wm. P. Dollman, North Adelaide'. Also included with the collection is a (slightly damaged) unmounted single microphotographic print (74 mm square). [89 items].
Item #140504
Price (AUD):
$9,900.00