1870\'s Quarter-Plate Tailboard Camera w/Uncommon JBL Lens * A.D. Fisk, Hermagis For Sale

I apologize for canceling this listing last week, so soon after it began, but I was informed that the lens on this unique palm-sized tailboard camera was uncommon and that I might want to put some time and effort into researching where it was manufactured, by whom, and when. So I did that, and I\'m relisting the camera tonight, but the lens remains a mystery. It was apparently sold by the photographic supply store A.D. Fisk in New York sometime in the 1880\'s. Fisk was an importer of Hermagis lenses, and perhaps only Hermagis lenses -- I couldn\'t say. However, the only lenses mentioned in an A.D. Fisk advertisement I found online were those bearing the imprints of Hermagis and J.B.L. Thereseems to be no other reference anywhere (archived online at least) to that particular brand of lens.
As you can see in the photographs, the camera has been carefully maintained and is in excellent condition throughout. The exquisitely crafted, polished mahogany body retains its original finish, and the bellows are still supple and appear to be light tight. All of the brass fittings are original and in excellent condition, and no fittings appear to be missing. The ground glass focusing plate is a replacement, with a small chip in the lower right corner.The J.B.L \"mystery\" lens is clear and in excellent condition. The brass lens barrel is beautiful and has an unusual manufacturer\'s imprint, with which I\'m not familiar (see last picture). I don\'t think the lens is original to camera, as there are several different mounting holes on the lens board, and the lens board opening has been widened. I do not know the lens\'s focal length. The camera folds up neatly and looks beautiful from any angle. Measures approximately 6\" wide by 7\" high by 8\" deep (with lens mounted and tailboard extended). Shipping weight will be about 8 lb.That\'s about it. I will pack it carefully and properly. sale participants with no prior response history or with hidden response should contact me before placing a offer. Buyer prepays and includes shipping.