Henry Fitz: Rare Self Portrait Daguerreotype. Quite rare 9th plate daguerreotype of Henry Fitz, Jr. He was an American engineer, scientist, locksmith, optician, inventor and a pioneer of photography in the United States.

In 1839, he entered a partnership with Alexander Wolcott and John Johnson to solve the problem of making daguerreotype images. Johnson fell ill, however, and work only resumed in January 1840. These experiments led Wolcott to patent a special mirror camera.

Wolcott and Johnson opened the first photo studio in the world in March 1840. Fitz opened his own daguerreotype studio in Baltimore in June 1840. 

Fitz’s telescope business was highly profitable, so in 1863, he started construction of a new house. However, he died suddenly on November 7, 1863. Before his final illness, he was about to sail for Europe to select a glass for a 24-inch (610 mm) telescope and to procure patents for a camera involving a new form of lens.

An extremely rare image from a true pioneer in the early days of photography.

Dag in a half leather case. Tarnishing, but remains clear.