Does anyone here have any information on photographic slides?

[triber]

Quite a while ago I purchased a set of photograpic 35 mm slides in a folder of Indians dated from 1878-1919 (the pictures not the actual slides). I just have no idea how to list them, value etc. I have searched the Internet but there is nothing similar.

They are hard to even photograph. Any help would be appreciated.

[ypdc_dennis]

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@triber wrote:

Quite a while ago I purchased a set of photograpic 35 mm slides in a folder of Indians dated from 1878-1919 (the pictures not the actual slides). I just have no idea how to list them, value etc.

You might want to check the forums on ebay.com (more eyes and opinions).

The modern 35mm slide has been around since 1936.

In 1850, brothers William and Frederick Langenheim developed the Hyalotype. A Hyalotype was a glass side that contained a positive photographic image copied from a negative. A Hyalotype could be projected via magic lantern and shown to audiences. It was the first time photographic images could be projected. 

Colour came to slides with the Lumiere Autochrome process around 1907.

-..-

[femmefan1946]

So these are photographs printed from slides?

If so, that's how to describe them.  The information  @ypdc_dennis @ gave you could be part of the description

Don't try to photograph them.

Scan them. You can scan pretty much anything flat and get a much better detailed result.

Most printers also work as scanners.

[triber]

No, they are the actual 35mm mounted transparency slides. There are lots on eBay of peoples holiday pictures, families etc, but these are all of Indian people from over 100 years ago.

[msmaggie060]

By Indian do you mean Native Americans? If so, on eBay.com I found lots of slides being sold. Try “35mm slides native Americans” and you will see lots. Prices really vary.

Before listing yours, I think you will need some kind of viewer or projector so you can then take a photo of the actual slide for sale.

[mcrlmn]

Last year, I came across 300+ slides and about the same number of old photos and negatives in my mother's attic.

I decided it was worth my time, and reluctantly my money, to digitally preserve them.

A lot of memories and history were degrading with time or would be overlooked; particularly the obsolete slides and their inconvenient format .

I have fond memories of Saturday night slide shows 60 years ago,  the sound of the projector as my father pushed one after another through it, and what would appear on the screen next.

Yes, even the old RCAF base on Sea Island, and the Avro Arrow.

I'm rambling, so to get to the point...

I did a lot of looking around, reading reviews, and price checking.

IMO, do not buy a compact film and slide converter/scanner.

The reproduction quality is generally poor, and the scanner may not be compatible with your OS.

Beware of cheap knock-offs, and as I've said ad nauseam, only purchase electronic items from certified distributors. You will save yourself a lot of grief.

There is no 'too good to be true' deal, and there is no quick fix toward transferring your media to digital format.

Depending on the quantity, such a project can require a significant amount of patience and time.

You don't need to be wasting any of it chasing down any dubious Asian seller to get your money back.

My advise...

Buy a slide, negative, and film adapter for your flatbed scanner:

If you don't have a decent scanner, there are $150-$200  listings from reputable distributors that will produce quality results.

I bought an Epson Perfection V550 photo, film, and document scanner on sale at Staples.

Deals come up weekly at various distributors and office supply outlets; maybe even Costco.

Good luck.

[mcrlmn]

Last year, I came across 300+ slides and about the same number of old photos and negatives in my mother's attic.

I decided it was worth my time, and reluctantly my money, to digitally preserve them.

A lot of memories and history were degrading with time or would be overlooked; particularly the obsolete slides and their inconvenient format .

I have fond memories of Saturday night slide shows 60 years ago,  the sound of the projector as my father pushed one after another through it, and what would appear on the screen next.

Yes, even the old RCAF base on Sea Island, and the Avro Arrow.

I'm rambling, so to get to the point...

I did a lot of looking around, reading reviews, and price checking.

IMO, do not buy a compact film and slide converter/scanner.

The reproduction quality is generally poor, and the scanner may not be compatible with your OS.

Beware of cheap knock-offs, and as I've said ad nauseam, only purchase electronic items from certified distributors. You will save yourself a lot of grief.

There is no 'too good to be true' deal, and there is no quick fix toward transferring your media to digital format.

Depending on the quantity, such a project can require a significant amount of patience and time.

You don't need to be wasting any of it chasing down any dubious Asian seller to get your money back.

My advise...

Buy a slide, negative, and film adapter for your flatbed scanner:

If you don't have a decent scanner, there are $150-$200  listings from reputable distributors that will produce quality results.

I bought an Epson Perfection V550 photo, film, and document scanner on sale at Staples.

Deals come up weekly at various distributors and office supply outlets; maybe even Costco.

Good luck.

[kawartha-ephemera]

Slides are kind of like old film negatives in that they require a special accessory to hold them above the glass so they can be scanned, I don't think you'll be able to photograph them in any useful way.

Based on the little bit you've told us about the subject matter I wonder if they might be reproductions of photographs from an earlier era, they were commonly sold as souvenirs at places like Niagara Falls or the Grand Canyon, lots of tourist traps had them. Very often they were cheap junk that quickly faded and discoloured but not always.

If  they are original amateur photos they could be valuable.

[kawartha-ephemera]

Same here, lots of childhood memories of slide shows. Every year Dad got them out at least once during the Holidays. My Sister had them professionally scanned in recent years, they survived 50 years pretty well.  Always have admired those vivid Kodachrome colours.

[triber]

I doubt they are original, I am going to try and add a picture

[triber]

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@msmaggie060 wrote:

By Indian do you mean Native Americans? If so, on eBay.com I found lots of slides being sold. Try “35mm slides native Americans” and you will see lots. Prices really vary.

Before listing yours, I think you will need some kind of viewer or projector so you can then take a photo of the actual slide for sale.

---

I presume Native Americans. I think there are some lovely pictures, mostly sepia tones.

[femmefan1946]

Some of them are named!!

I collect in a desultory way books about arctic exploration, since at one point I worked for IAND and also I have a few First Nations relations.

It is amazing how few of the local people are ever identified by name, particularly in photographs.  If you are able to get a good image of some of those, the Band Council of the named Nation might be interested, just as you would be interested in photos of your great-grandmother.

There are restrictions on selling Native American items, so read the warning when it pops up. I don't think these come anywhere near the restriction though.

[kawartha-ephemera · Accepted solution]

DOCUMENT NAME/INFORMANT: GEORGE FIRST RIDER
BLOOD INDIAN HORN SOCIETY 3
INITIATION - PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS
INFORMANT'S ADDRESS: BLOOD RESERVE CARDSTON, ALBERTA
INTERVIEW LOCATION: BLOOD RESERVE CARDSTON, ALBERTA
TRIBE/NATION: BLOOD
LANGUAGE: BLACKFOOT
DATE OF INTERVIEW: MARCH 25, 1969
INTERVIEWER: J.C. HELLSON
INTERPRETER: DAVE MELTING TALLOW
TRANSCRIBER: JOANNE GREENWOOD
SOURCE: PROVINCIAL MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES OF ALBERTA
TAPE NUMBER: IH-AA.077
DISK: TRANSCRIPT DISC 54
PAGES: 8
RESTRICTIONS: NONE



GEORGE FIRST RIDER

George First Rider of the Blood Reserve was born in 1904.
He had no formal schooling but became an accomplished horseman
and worked for a time on the rodeo circuit. After working as a
farmer he ended up in jail as a result of alcoholism and theft.
He attributes his reform to his conversion to Christianity.
He prides himself on his ability as a storyteller and on
his knowledge of Blood culture, particularly the holy societies
many of which he joined as a young man.

[triber]

That is really interesting. The date would tally as it says 1919 when he would have been a young man.

[triber]

tyler@ebay

Do you have any idea if these would be allowed to list?

[kawartha-ephemera]

Yes, those are a very interesting find. I've spent a bit of time trying to find out a little more about them. They seem to be related to the Blackfoot Confederacy of Southern Alberta, all that I've searched relate to those peoples.

My guess is that group was not sold commercially but some or all likely appeared separately somewhere else scattered around in archives, books, printed gravures etc. My guess is some obscure research individual or organisation prepared that collection as part of a larger project ... probably back in the late 60s.

They're definitely not everyday ebay photographs, might be worth considering an auction can those. Native American media sells very well.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/blackfoot-nation

[triber]

Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it. I had considered putting them on auction because I have no idea what they are worth as I can't find any like them on the Internet. I have to make sure at first that it is alright to sell them on eBay.

[kawartha-ephemera]

I don't think there's any problem with selling those. I've had some success with Native photos, prints and postcards from time to time. My thought is that it's best to go the extra mile with this sort of thing, I always do my best to correctly identify the tribe heirarchy in the title along with any other cultural cues that might help interested parties find the listing.  

As for listing images, maybe you could devise some way to backlight the transparencies in a dark room while snapping a few photos, could try placing them on a scanner with the lid open in a dark room, start the scanner and be quick with the camera. Might be a fun experiment! 

[reallynicestamps]

The restriction on Native American/First Nations material is mostly aimed at preventing tourist cr- stuff being passed off as made by indigenous craftsmen and artists.

And yes, I'd put a date of 1967 ish on the group of slides. The typeface is very 60s.

The Blackfoot around Nanton AB are a prosperous group, with a canny sense of business. There might be interest there.

There were a lot of historical projects done at the Centennial. Everyone had a Centennial Project. Mine was to be the first in my family to attend university. My sister's was to leave the country.

[triber]

• Here is a better picture.