You might be right, of course, but IMV the photo is a tintype. While a few in the collection are CDVs or cabinet cards, all of the photos taken in the USA are tintypes. Most of them were taken by a tintyper named George G. Morgan, but he did indeed go on to other forms of photography before he retired. The photo in question however, is rather early, taken probably in 1880 or 81. Billy, of course, was killed in 1881. The other men lived for five or so years after Billy's death.
While Morgan had a home in Viroqua, Wisconsin, he was born and raised in the same county that John Chisum was born in and I think the men knew one another. Also since Morgan ran his photographic business from a wagon that he parked in downtown Viroqua he could easily move around. Since it is very cold in the winters in Viroqua and since it is difficult, or impossible to make tintypes in the freezing cold, I speculate that Morgan traveled south to New Mexico, Territory and hooked up with his boyhood chum, John S. Chisum. I have tintypes of people who lived in New Mexico that include their paper frames with Morgan's name embossed on them that include his address in Viroqua, Wis. Am I just speculating? Probably a bit, but still my theory is a possibility and I do own the pictures of Billy's gang and the Chisum family. I used to easily be able to attach digitized copies on the pictures in these pages, but things computer changed and I can no longer do it. Sorry. Stepmac
---------- Post added 03-14-24 at 11:53 AM ----------
BTW, most of the tintypes of the Chisum's and their friends are very well made and in perfect focus. Some however are not so well made which makes me think that Morgan employed an assistant, which was common among tintype photographers. In those days the science of photography was considered to be the processing of the wet plate and not the operation of the camera. Therefore, some of the pictures show the subject not very well placed in the picture, but some are nicely and artistically arranged. The good pictures show the subject placed slightly out of the center of the picture frame and slightly turned. Others, not so nice show the subject smack dab in the center of the picture frame and looking straight into the camera....boring!
---------- Post added 03-14-24 at 12:04 PM ----------
Just a note about my history with this collection of pictures. I found them in a small antique shop in Bend, Oregon in December 2006. Next door to the little store (no longer in business) was a barbershop. I had gone downtown to get a haircut, but the barbershop was full so I wandered into the antique store next door. It was a small place with antiques on display, old records, plates, some jewelry, etc.. On a little shelf were placed tintypes for sale. I picked one up and thought that the fellow shown looked like a McCarty (my family) and then after some time looking at it, I realized that the fellow was, or looked like, Billy the Kid who was a McCarty of course. I also noticed quite a few other tintypes that showed people who looked kind of familiar to me, but I just bought the one who looked like Billy. The price was $6.50. The old photo looked, and still looks, almost like new and is in perfect focus. It has its original paper frame and is embossed with G.W. Morgan's name and his address in Viroqua, Wis. I thought that showing the picture to historians and fans of the LCW and the Kid would be fun. It turned out to be much more difficult that I thought it would be.
---------- Post added 03-14-24 at 12:17 PM ----------
If you are intrigued enough about my story and want to see the pictures, well, you can, but I can no longer publish them here as I used to be able to do. Not long after I found them I contacted a fellow who goes by the handle of Anglefire. If you google Anglefire Sallie Chisum pictures you will be directed to his site where he has done a good job of showing my collection along with other known photos of the same people/person. He also explains why he thinks that my collection might be authentic. Look the site up. I'd like to hear what you think about it.
---------- Post added 03-14-24 at 12:43 PM ----------
To really appreciate my collection of tintypes you have to have some knowledge of the Lincoln County War and the history of Billy the Kid. When I found my pictures I had already read several of the many books about the Kid and I had visited the little town of Lincoln, New Mexico where much of the action took place. Moreover, my father and grandfather McCarty told me that we (meaning my family) were related to Billy the Kid, but neither they, nor any other member of my family who I have met who knew about this were proud of the fact. Billy, an outlaw and killer, of course. If you want to know something about the Kid and the bloody events surrounding his life then I suggest that you read Robert Utley's book "The Sage of Billy the Kid". It is short and a quick read. There are many other good books. Fred Nolan is one of the best authorities on the Kid. I have discussed the LCW with him. He has passed. He was a Brit and well known in the annuals of Billy the Kid. Others too. I am taking new digital pictures of my collection and will take some film picks as well after I finish the digital pics. For the digital images I'm using a Pentax K-01 with an 18 to 55 lens with macro filters screwed onto the lens. I find the peaking feature of the old K-01 to be helpful in taking pictures of these little pictures. I'll probably use a K1000 to take the film copies.
