Artist Index: Naval History

Photographer: Carl Wigand (1845-1883). Portrait of Adolph Wilhelm Berger (1829-1898). 1850s. Quarter-plate (circa 9 x 7,5 cm) daguerreotype with gilt-ruled paper surround, newly sealed behind glass in modern brown canvas clamshell box with gilt-stamped title Adolph Berger.

The daguerreotype offered here shows Adolph Wilhelm Berger in the uniform of a Prussian naval officer with the rank of "Leutnant z. See II. Klasse". His promotion in 1855 was probably why he visited the studio of Carl Wigand to take a souvenir with him from Berlin. His training began in 1848 on the U.S. "St. Lawrence", which Adolph Berger and four other Prussian cadets boarded in Bremerhaven in 1848 so they could learn the ins and outs of the U.S. Navy. The American Captain Paulding advised the German states on building naval forces, among other things, during this mission. In July 1849, the frigate returned to Bremerhaven via Southampton, Lisbon and Cadiz, and discharged the cadets, as Prussia was at war with Denmark at the time. Further training took place in 1863/64 with the Royal Navy aboard H.M.S. "Black Prince". In an album offered in the next lot 4050, also from the estate of Adolph Berger, there are circa 14 portraits of officers of the "Black Prince", as well as crews and officers of the ships mentioned below. In the German-Danish War of 1864, Berger served on the "Arcona" and was severely wounded. In the following years between 1867-1877 he commanded the "Musquito", "Niobe", "Hansa", "Renown" and the armed frigate "Friedrich Carl". Berger's career culminated with the rank of vice admiral. – Tarnishing in edges, otherwise in very good condition.

Lit.: Hans H. Hildebrand, Ernst Henriot, Deutschlands Admirale 1849-1945. Osnabrück, 1988.

Two souvenir albums of Corvetten Capitain Adolph Wilhelm Berger (1829-1898). 1866/1880s. First album (1866) with circa 173 mounted albumen prints. Various sizes, including 161 cdv size, 5 cabinet card size and 7 circa 20 x 27 cm albumen prints (each annotated with full name, military rank and date), mounted to album pages (buckled, slightly soiled/time-stained in edges), bound in modern half leather album with gilt-stamped title Corvetten Capitain Berger 1866, front fly leaf signed and dated by Adolph Berger in ink. Second album (1880s) with circa 92 albumen prints, most cdv, including 7 cabinet portraits, inserted in gilt-edged window album mats, most annotated in pencil below image on the mount, hand-painted dedication title page, full leather album with silver maritime ornaments on front cover, with clasp.

These comprehensive albums are comprised of many portraits of Naval officers and large group portraits of ship crews on deck of SMS Niobe and the ironclad warship Hansa. These photographs from the 1860s-1880s are extremely rare documents of German naval history. German photos of this kind were rare even then and only a few have survived. The albums offered here include nearly every officer and official who held rank in the Prussian and Imperial Navy. They are all connected in some way with Adolph Berger's career as an officer. Of particular interest is a portrait photograph of James Madison Adams (1826-1870). Adams was a Chief Engineer in the US Navy and came to Kiel in 1866 on the USS "Augusta." The USS "Augusta" was one of two escort ships of the monitor USS "Miantonomoh" built for the United States Navy while the American Civil War was still in progress. After the end of the Civil War, US President Andrew Johnson sent the ship on a voyage across the North Atlantic in May 1866 to conduct a "showing the flag mission" in Europe. The spectacular armored ship was a great sensation wherever it appeared. Coming from St. Petersburg, the USS "Augusta" and the USS "Miantonomoh" entered the harbor of Kiel on 29.09.1866, where among others the photo of James M. Adams was taken. The portraits of English officers of the S.M.S. "Black Prince" in one of the albums are also rare and interesting. A very extensive documentation and list of names is included with the albums.
For a more detailed biography of Adolph Berger, see previous lot 4049. – Some photos faded, some photos cut out, a few with light spots, otherwise most in good condition.