Courtesy photo
William Bohn, a private photography collector on the East Coast, and Ron James, Nevada state historic preservation officer, announced the discovery of an antique image tentatively identified as Henry Comstock, a prospector who briefly rose to national prominence 150 years ago.
Comstock gave his name to the Comstock Lode, one of the greatest gold and silver strikes in history, discovered in June 1859. The mining district included Virginia City, which became famous for its wealth and cutting-edge technology.
Bohn acquired the photograph at an antiques show in Palmer, Mass., on May 10 from a seller who claimed the image depicted Comstock and that it came from an estate sale in Maine. The dealer also alleged that a document associated with the photograph described the discovery of the Comstock Lode, but that it had already been sold separately. Analysis of the image identifies several similarities to the only positively identified photograph of Comstock.
"Henry Comstock in one of the more important characters in the history of western mining," said James.
"The discovery of a photograph that might depict him is exciting news and is of considerable importance to the entire nation."
The image of Comstock is a tintype, which was a form of photography popular from the mid-1850s until the end of the 19th century. The only positively identified image of Comstock is grainy and difficult to evaluate, but certain similarities are obvious.
"Initial analysis of the image indicates there is a strong resemblance between the verified image of Comstock and this new discovery," said Bohn. "Using rudimentary tools for facial comparison, it is possible to determine that the general shape of the two faces and the shape of the nose match. In addition, similarities in clothing and the appearance of the beard reinforce the idea that this new photograph depicts Comstock."