Photography F.Gutekunst Cost Record for Organ in Studio Gutekunst so busy he hired organist for cutomers 1879 Start Price USD 159.99 Current Price USD 159.99 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, August 19, 2008 End Time Tuesday, August 26, 2008 Location Macungie, PA See more about 'Photography F.Gutekunst Cost Record for Organ in Studio' Description Being offered is a cost record for the organ Frederick Gutekunst bought in 1879 to entertain his many waiting cutomers.  Gutekunst was the best studio photographer of the 19th Century.  He photographed  three presidents, Grant always said his portrait by Gutekunst was the best ever made of him.  Dignitaries visiting from around the world came to Phila. to be photographed by him.  Many famous Americans also came to see him, Emerson, Whittier, Longfellow, General Sherman, even the reclusive Walt Whitman came across the Delaware for his portrait.  Around 1980 I met the most wonderful lady whose father was Gutekunst's lawyer, & inherited all his belongings when he died.  I bought boxes of Gutekunst's belongings, & his eight cameras. The cameras were stored in an unheated carriage house.  I also bought the organ mentioned before, but it fell apart when we tried to move it, so I left it behind.  I tried to restore the cameras, but gave up after several years & sold them.  Presently in Phila., The Philadelphia College of Pharmacy is having a wonderful exhibition of Gutekunst's photos running until Sept. 29.  He graduated from there in 1853. Because he was so busy he bought this organ, & hired an organist, to entertain his customers who waited many hours to be photographed.  Some people will tell you this is a folk tale, but I had the organ in my hand, & you can now have his recapitulation of the costs.  I know of no other photographer who was this busy, so this is an extremely rare document. He ordered it from Europe in August, 1878, & received it in April 1879. I believe this cost analysis was written by Gutekunst, but I can't say for sure.  It is on his stationery, & not a bill from the company who sold him the Orchestrion, I'm calling it an organ.   We all know the high prices Photographic equipment, cameras, unique photos, advertising pieces bring, but there are thousands of these out there.  When was the last time you heard of a photographer having an organ in his waiting room, & saw a copy of the cost of this organ?  I feel confident in calling this a one-of-a-kind piece of photographic history.  It is in perfect condition other than the two folds.(See pictures) I will be putting some more of my Gutekunst artifacts on E-Bay over the next two weeks. Being offered at a low starting bid with NO reserve.  ***Please ask any/all questions BEFORE bidding.***   POERIFFIC CONTRACT AND PAYMENT TERMS:  If YOU are the winning bidder, I will automatically receive your name and mailing(ship to) address at the end of the auction.  If the address that YOU supplied to eBay is NOT where you would like the item shipped, please email me immediately.  Payment MUST be received NO LATER than ten(10) days from auction end.  If payment is not received in that time, I will be forced to open an "unpaid dispute" through eBay.  All of my items are previously-owned and are described "to the best of my knowledge."  I do my best to properly describe any flaws, blemishes, imperfections, etc. in items that are offered for sale.  If you have ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL, I recommend you contact me PRIOR TO placing your bid.  I accept PayPal, personal checks(10-day waiting period), money orders or certified bank checks only. POERIFFIC SHIPPING TERMS:  I will only ship to the continental United States.  I will normally ship USPS Priority Mail. I use USPS "Delivery Confirmations" on all purchases.  Insurance will be optional at an additional charge.  If item sells for $50.00 or less, insurance would be $1.65.  Anything above $51.00, I will have to notify you.  Place a Bid!