NEUMEISTER Münchener Kunstauktionshaus, in Munich, is offering a very early Richard Beard daguerreotype at auction on 19-20 March 2025. The subject is Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, founder of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Koháry. The prince and his family were visiting Queen Victoria and Prince Albert Windsor in January/February 1842 and it is possible that the daguerreotype was made during the visit. The daguerreotype is estimated at 350-500 Euro.
The lot description reads:
Richard Beard and employees
1801 East Stonehouse, Devon - 1885 Hampstead
Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, founder of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Koháry
Inscribed "Beard / Patented" on the inner metal frame. Daguerreotype. Image size: 5 x 3.8 cm. Set in a red leather case. Damaged.
Ferdinand was the second son of Duke Franz Friedrich Anton of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (1750-1806) and Countess Auguste Reuß zu Ebersdorf (1757-1831). In 1816 he married Countess Maria Antonie Gabriele Koháry de Csábrág et Szitnya (1797 Budapest - 1862 Vienna), the heiress of the House of Koháry. The House of Saxe-Coburg-Koháry emerged from this marriage. The couple had four children, including Prince August (1818-1881), who would marry Princess Clémentine d'Orléans.
The daguerreotype technique was the first commercially usable photography process in the 19th century. It is named after the painter Louis Daguerre, who helped develop it. It was published in 1839. In England, Richard Beard became aware of the new technology and secured the patent for England and Wales. In 1841, he founded the first English photography studio. Most of the photographs taken in Beard's studio were taken by employees. In our case, the name of the metal frame also refers to this.
Provenance: Clémentine, née Princess of Orléans (1817-1907), to her son Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria (1861-1948). Estate of Dr. Alexander Eugen, Duke of Württemberg (1933-2024).
Provenance: estate of Dr. Alexander Eugen, Duke of Württemberg (1933-2024).
March-Auction and Ducal Treasures – Noble Sale. From the House of Württemberg
19-20 March 2025
Lot 1243
See: https://www.neumeister.com/en/auctions/ducaltreasures/#c27751
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