James ' S Harmonial Oil Wells Pleasantville PA By John Mather 1860s 7 " X 9 " Photo
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:24537248 |
PLEASE NOTE: WHILE THIS SELLER ID IS NEW TO EBAY, WE ARE NOT NEW TO PHOTOGRAPHY OR ANTIQUES. WE HAVE BEEN DEALING AND COLLECTING SINCE 1974. WE HAVE ALWAYS STOOD BEHIND WHAT WE OFFER. ENJOY!
OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE
A very good and extremely rare larg...e format albumen photograph in the Pennsylvania Oil Regions titled "James's Harmonial Well No. 2 Pleasantville, Pennsylvania." Signed "Photo by Mather Titusville Penn." By John Mather. Mid-1860s.
Only the second large format truly vintage work by Mather I have encountered! And sorry, the other was sold many years ago and resides in the Nelson Atkins Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.
Total measurements of image area are approximately 7" by 9 1/4", and with mount approximately 11" by 14".
This item is in near fine or better condition, save for lightness and a few spots and mount wear. Please review the photographs carefully as they are an essential part of the description.
KEYWORDS: Architecture Architectural Scenic Landscape Trees Oil Fossil Fuels Drilling Oil Wells Derricks Coopers Barrelmakers Home Residences Businesses Painted Signs Americana
PLEASE READ BELOW!
ALL NON-USA RESIDENTS: SHIPPING IS $35.00 BY STANDARD INTERNATIONAL MAIL FOR FLAT ENVELOPES AND SMALL PACKAGES ONLY. PACKAGE POSTAL FEES ARE DETERMINED BY THE PACKAGE'S SIZE AND WEIGHT. PLEASE KNOW A CUSTOMS DECLARATION IS REQUIRED ON ALL INTERNATIONAL PACKAGES. INSURED PACKAGES MUST BE SENT PARCEL POST AND THE FEE IS $75.00 PLUS THE INSURANCE FEE. WINNING BIDDERS ACCEPT ALL SHIPPING RISKS FOR UNINSURED INTERNATIONAL PACKAGES. WINNING BIDDERS WILL RECEIVE AN EBAY INVOICE OR PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME AFTER THE AUCTION CLOSES REGARDING PAYMENT AND SHIPPING DETAILS. PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM OBLIGATED UNDER U. S. LAW TO DECLARE THE FULL VALUE OF A PACKAGE SHIPPED OUT OF THE UNITED STATES. PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME TO BREAK THE LAW AND DO OTHERWISE.
ALL USA RESIDENTS: PAYMENT MUST BE MADE WITHIN THREE DAYS BY PAYPAL. ANY OTHER ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE MADE WITH ME WELL IN ADVANCE! NO EXCEPTIONS! UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED SHIPPING IS $ 15.00 IN THE UNITED STATES WITH DELIVERY CONFIRMATION. I CAN COMBINE SHIPPING ON MULTIPLE PURCHASES CLOSING THE SAME WEEK, BUT YOU MUST ASK AND WAIT FOR AN INVOICE PRIOR TO PAYMENT OR ADDITIONAL FEES WILL BE INCURRED. INSURANCE REQUIRED ON SHIPMENTS ABOVE $ 100.00.
Abram James (credited with discovering oil in Pleasantville)
The Spiritual Magazine June 1871READINGS IN "THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY" SPIRITUALISM EVERYWHERE.IT seems to me impossible to pursue a course of reading in any direction in which you are not certain to come upon Spiritualistic facts. I have lately been amusing, and, I may say, greatly instructing myself, by the perusal of a series of the American journal, The Atlantic Monthly. I have been extremely pleased with the sound moral tone of this miscellany, so different to that of the general run of our English popular magazines, which are at once so flashy, sophisticated in spirit, and so pretentious. The vast amount of substantial knowledge contained in this leading American journal, and the healthy, genial character of the whole, speaks volumes for the moral and intellectual stamina of the educated population of the United States. But what I am immediately intending is to say that I have come across a number of spiritual facts and narratives, given without any hesitation or apology, which I have not seen mentioned in the Spiritual Magazine, and which I therefore transcribe. In the second part of an article called " The Carpet-bagger in Pennsylvania, " in the number for June, 1869, p. 738, there is this account of Mr. James, who at spiritual instigation put down the celebrated artesian well at Chicago. It is well known that Mr. Abraham James bored this well in the very face of the most positive assertions of the geologists that it was a useless attempt, and that he drew no profit whatever from that most successful experiment. The spirits then advised him to go to the oil-fields of Pennsylvania. Here, then, we find him�ABRAHAM JAMES AT THE OIL FIELDS."Pleasantville was the quietest of villages a few months ago, and now the liveliest oil-pumping place in the State. Whence this change? Early in the days of speculation in oil-lands, much of the country about here was bought up and held at high prices, until experience seemed to have demonstrated that accessible oil-veins were confined to the low lands and the banks of streams. Pleasantville is high and hilly; so the farms thus secured soon slipped out of the hands of speculators, and fell back to their old prices. There they remained, till a man named Abraham James, a Spiritualist and a medium, passed this way. Here is what he says happened to him, as he was for the first time (October, 1866) riding through Pleasantville with some friends:�"I was violently influenced and controlled by a power outside myself. Forced from the buggy over the fence, and becoming entirely unconscious, I was moved some distance across the fields, and made to stop upon a certain location, where my controlling influence said to those present, pointing towards the earth, 'Here is an immense amount of petroleum."�This assertion seems to have been corroborated by abundant dreams and visions; and in August, 1867, amidst the scoffs of unbelievers, work was commenced by the faithful on the spot indicated. In December, a depth of 700 feet had been reached, and the third sand rock passed through�still no oil. The faithful began to falter, and stock in the ' Harmonial Well'�for so it had been named, in honor of the spiritual philosophy� became a laughing-stock throughout the oil region. Still James and a small band of believers kept the drills going; and people who reviled their creed began to admire their pluck. This certainly was real, whatever might be said of their powers of prophecy. In January, the tools had gone down 100 feet farther, and still there was ' no show.' When compared with Drake's well, which struck oil at 96� feet, this 800-ft. well of the Harmonials was certainly an enterprise deserving of respect. When compared with the deepest wells that had yet found oil beginning at Drake's depth�they had finally got down to 600 feet in Pithole Creek�it looked, to secular eyes, like that most abhorred and derided thing, a ''dry hole.""It was not ' Crazy Drake' now who was the subject of derisive comment; it was 'Crazy James.' People laughed louder than ever when he proceeded to build tanks for his oil� a folly of which no sane man in testing new territory had ever yet been guilty. But James was so sure of his bird, that he was determined to have his cage ready; and, truth to say, it was not long before the cage came into use. On the last day of January the tools were well down in the fourth sand rock, "at a depth of 835 feet, and on the morning of the 1st of February the little world of Pleasantville was astounded by the news that oil had been struck. The pumping apparatus was adjusted, and the amazed citizens saw a stream of black oil spout into the tanks. Everybody was in high glee; not the Harmonials alone, who were of course rejoiced at an event which seemed to justify their large outlay of faith and money ; but the grim farmers of the neighborhood, who, though they did not believe in spiritual gifts, did believe most firmly in a flow of oil, rubbed their rough hands with satisfaction, well aware how this lucky chance, as they called it, would affect the value of their lands."This happened only nine months ago, and now witnesses the result. James's 'Harmonial Well, No. 1, ' made known to all comers by the conspicuous sign nailed aloft on the derrick�all the wells are named and labeled in this way�is surrounded by a community of derricks thick as trees on a Southern deadening."I hardly know what effect this practical argument of the Spiritualists may have on the minds of unbelievers. I talk with some of these who smile at it, saying that, although James's enterprise succeeded, many similar attempts to find oil or treasure through spirit agencies have failed, and that, consequently, nothing is proved. Still, I perceive that they speak of James with respect. There is one good thing�success; everybody appreciates that; and I find a number of Spiritualists of the practical sort at Pleasantville, and a still larger crop of persons who do not believe in spiritual agency, but who yet have faith in the location of wells through the indications of the hazel switch in sensitive hands. A goodly proportion of the wells now drilling are going down on spots where mediums have stuck their sticks or the hazel-rod has turned."
OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE
A very good and extremely rare larg...e format albumen photograph in the Pennsylvania Oil Regions titled "James's Harmonial Well No. 2 Pleasantville, Pennsylvania." Signed "Photo by Mather Titusville Penn." By John Mather. Mid-1860s.
Only the second large format truly vintage work by Mather I have encountered! And sorry, the other was sold many years ago and resides in the Nelson Atkins Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.
Total measurements of image area are approximately 7" by 9 1/4", and with mount approximately 11" by 14".
This item is in near fine or better condition, save for lightness and a few spots and mount wear. Please review the photographs carefully as they are an essential part of the description.
KEYWORDS: Architecture Architectural Scenic Landscape Trees Oil Fossil Fuels Drilling Oil Wells Derricks Coopers Barrelmakers Home Residences Businesses Painted Signs Americana
PLEASE READ BELOW!
ALL NON-USA RESIDENTS: SHIPPING IS $35.00 BY STANDARD INTERNATIONAL MAIL FOR FLAT ENVELOPES AND SMALL PACKAGES ONLY. PACKAGE POSTAL FEES ARE DETERMINED BY THE PACKAGE'S SIZE AND WEIGHT. PLEASE KNOW A CUSTOMS DECLARATION IS REQUIRED ON ALL INTERNATIONAL PACKAGES. INSURED PACKAGES MUST BE SENT PARCEL POST AND THE FEE IS $75.00 PLUS THE INSURANCE FEE. WINNING BIDDERS ACCEPT ALL SHIPPING RISKS FOR UNINSURED INTERNATIONAL PACKAGES. WINNING BIDDERS WILL RECEIVE AN EBAY INVOICE OR PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME AFTER THE AUCTION CLOSES REGARDING PAYMENT AND SHIPPING DETAILS. PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM OBLIGATED UNDER U. S. LAW TO DECLARE THE FULL VALUE OF A PACKAGE SHIPPED OUT OF THE UNITED STATES. PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME TO BREAK THE LAW AND DO OTHERWISE.
ALL USA RESIDENTS: PAYMENT MUST BE MADE WITHIN THREE DAYS BY PAYPAL. ANY OTHER ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE MADE WITH ME WELL IN ADVANCE! NO EXCEPTIONS! UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED SHIPPING IS $ 15.00 IN THE UNITED STATES WITH DELIVERY CONFIRMATION. I CAN COMBINE SHIPPING ON MULTIPLE PURCHASES CLOSING THE SAME WEEK, BUT YOU MUST ASK AND WAIT FOR AN INVOICE PRIOR TO PAYMENT OR ADDITIONAL FEES WILL BE INCURRED. INSURANCE REQUIRED ON SHIPMENTS ABOVE $ 100.00.
Abram James (credited with discovering oil in Pleasantville)
The Spiritual Magazine June 1871READINGS IN "THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY" SPIRITUALISM EVERYWHERE.IT seems to me impossible to pursue a course of reading in any direction in which you are not certain to come upon Spiritualistic facts. I have lately been amusing, and, I may say, greatly instructing myself, by the perusal of a series of the American journal, The Atlantic Monthly. I have been extremely pleased with the sound moral tone of this miscellany, so different to that of the general run of our English popular magazines, which are at once so flashy, sophisticated in spirit, and so pretentious. The vast amount of substantial knowledge contained in this leading American journal, and the healthy, genial character of the whole, speaks volumes for the moral and intellectual stamina of the educated population of the United States. But what I am immediately intending is to say that I have come across a number of spiritual facts and narratives, given without any hesitation or apology, which I have not seen mentioned in the Spiritual Magazine, and which I therefore transcribe. In the second part of an article called " The Carpet-bagger in Pennsylvania, " in the number for June, 1869, p. 738, there is this account of Mr. James, who at spiritual instigation put down the celebrated artesian well at Chicago. It is well known that Mr. Abraham James bored this well in the very face of the most positive assertions of the geologists that it was a useless attempt, and that he drew no profit whatever from that most successful experiment. The spirits then advised him to go to the oil-fields of Pennsylvania. Here, then, we find him�ABRAHAM JAMES AT THE OIL FIELDS."Pleasantville was the quietest of villages a few months ago, and now the liveliest oil-pumping place in the State. Whence this change? Early in the days of speculation in oil-lands, much of the country about here was bought up and held at high prices, until experience seemed to have demonstrated that accessible oil-veins were confined to the low lands and the banks of streams. Pleasantville is high and hilly; so the farms thus secured soon slipped out of the hands of speculators, and fell back to their old prices. There they remained, till a man named Abraham James, a Spiritualist and a medium, passed this way. Here is what he says happened to him, as he was for the first time (October, 1866) riding through Pleasantville with some friends:�"I was violently influenced and controlled by a power outside myself. Forced from the buggy over the fence, and becoming entirely unconscious, I was moved some distance across the fields, and made to stop upon a certain location, where my controlling influence said to those present, pointing towards the earth, 'Here is an immense amount of petroleum."�This assertion seems to have been corroborated by abundant dreams and visions; and in August, 1867, amidst the scoffs of unbelievers, work was commenced by the faithful on the spot indicated. In December, a depth of 700 feet had been reached, and the third sand rock passed through�still no oil. The faithful began to falter, and stock in the ' Harmonial Well'�for so it had been named, in honor of the spiritual philosophy� became a laughing-stock throughout the oil region. Still James and a small band of believers kept the drills going; and people who reviled their creed began to admire their pluck. This certainly was real, whatever might be said of their powers of prophecy. In January, the tools had gone down 100 feet farther, and still there was ' no show.' When compared with Drake's well, which struck oil at 96� feet, this 800-ft. well of the Harmonials was certainly an enterprise deserving of respect. When compared with the deepest wells that had yet found oil beginning at Drake's depth�they had finally got down to 600 feet in Pithole Creek�it looked, to secular eyes, like that most abhorred and derided thing, a ''dry hole.""It was not ' Crazy Drake' now who was the subject of derisive comment; it was 'Crazy James.' People laughed louder than ever when he proceeded to build tanks for his oil� a folly of which no sane man in testing new territory had ever yet been guilty. But James was so sure of his bird, that he was determined to have his cage ready; and, truth to say, it was not long before the cage came into use. On the last day of January the tools were well down in the fourth sand rock, "at a depth of 835 feet, and on the morning of the 1st of February the little world of Pleasantville was astounded by the news that oil had been struck. The pumping apparatus was adjusted, and the amazed citizens saw a stream of black oil spout into the tanks. Everybody was in high glee; not the Harmonials alone, who were of course rejoiced at an event which seemed to justify their large outlay of faith and money ; but the grim farmers of the neighborhood, who, though they did not believe in spiritual gifts, did believe most firmly in a flow of oil, rubbed their rough hands with satisfaction, well aware how this lucky chance, as they called it, would affect the value of their lands."This happened only nine months ago, and now witnesses the result. James's 'Harmonial Well, No. 1, ' made known to all comers by the conspicuous sign nailed aloft on the derrick�all the wells are named and labeled in this way�is surrounded by a community of derricks thick as trees on a Southern deadening."I hardly know what effect this practical argument of the Spiritualists may have on the minds of unbelievers. I talk with some of these who smile at it, saying that, although James's enterprise succeeded, many similar attempts to find oil or treasure through spirit agencies have failed, and that, consequently, nothing is proved. Still, I perceive that they speak of James with respect. There is one good thing�success; everybody appreciates that; and I find a number of Spiritualists of the practical sort at Pleasantville, and a still larger crop of persons who do not believe in spiritual agency, but who yet have faith in the location of wells through the indications of the hazel switch in sensitive hands. A goodly proportion of the wells now drilling are going down on spots where mediums have stuck their sticks or the hazel-rod has turned."
