Exploring Early 20th c. Prints
Standley: Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Photographer
by Michael Ivankovich

      Although many collectors may recognize the name “Standley” as one of the leading names in early 20th c. western  hand-colored photography, I suspect that relatively few know much about Mr. Standley’s background. We had little information ourselves until our friends Bob & Gladys Masoner of Willow Street, Pennsylvania did some research while vacationing in Colorado Springs some time ago. Since all of the Standley pictures in our collection had been taken in Colorado, it didn’t surprise us that Harry Landis Standley (1881-1951) had indeed lived in Colorado. As a matter of fact, you will see that Standley’s beautiful hand-colored images from the Colorado Rocky Mountain region helped to promote and popularize this beautiful western state with many turn-of-the-century travelers and tourists. Here is some of what we have learned about Harry Landis Standley.
   Born in Arkansas City, Kansas on July 28, 1881, Standley’s family had moved to Pueblo, Colorado when he was only 7. They eventually moved to Cripple Creek and later to Colorado Springs in his younger years, thus first exposing him to the depth and beauty of the Rocky Mountains.
   Standley first became interested in photography as a teenager just before the turn-of-the-century. After apprenticing under several local photographers he opened his first photography shop in Colorado Springs in 1901 at the age of 20. As he gained experience over the next 20 years, his business grew. And as he prospered, Standley moved his growing photography business to several different locations within Colorado Springs before finally settling into his permanent business address at 224 North Tejon Street in 1921.
   Like nearly anyone else who has experienced them, Standley fell in love with Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. For more than 50 years he roamed the upper mountains and lower countryside carrying his heavy photographic equipment photographing the lakes, streams, canyons, green valleys, and of course, the snow-capped mountains. In the earlier years he carried a Pony Premo #6 (5x7) View Camera, a tripod stand, and his usual daily supply of heavy glass negative plates. As the years progressed, photographic technology greatly improved and his equipment load was significantly lightened as he traveled the back roads of Colorado looking for new places and things to photograph.
    At the age of 40,  Standley was able to combine his passion for photography and his love of the Colorado outdoors with a totally new undertaking...mountain climbing. And what started out as a hobby soon turned into a passion. Before long Standley had not only photographed all of Colorado’s 14,000' peaks...he was believed to have been only the 8th man in history to have climbed all of Colorado’s 14,000' peaks as well.
    Standley’s passion for climbing enabled him to meet many of Colorado’s other early climbers and in 1923 he became one of the five founding members of the AdAmAn Club, an exclusive hiking group that climbed Pike’s Peak each New Year’s Eve to set off a fireworks display, much to the delight of the Colorado Springs residents below.
   Standley’s hand-colored pictures were widely sold throughout Colorado, especially to tourists and visitors to the Pike’s Peak and Estes Park regions. They were primarily sold through his photography shop and through assorted other tourist and gift shop locations. Travelers always enjoy bringing home a memory of their vacation trip and what better way to fondly remember a special trip to Colorado than a beautiful and elegant Standley picture. As a result Standley pictures hung in houses throughout America, as well as in houses as far away as England, France, Switzerland, and Germany.
   Aside from the distinctive subject matter of Colorado’s beautiful Rocky Mountains, several other  characteristics seem to typify Standley pictures:

1) The word “Colorado” is usually the last word in the title
2) The signature is usually written in pencil
3) Often the signature is written at a drastic 45 degree angle, thus giving the Standley signature  a completely different look from other photographers
   Sold primarily as tourist gifts, Standley pictures were not necessarily meant to last forever. As a result, many of the signatures and titles have become quite faded over the years and it is not uncommon for the Standley attribution to go unrecognized today.
    In addition to his commercial sales, Standley’s work was recognized professionally as well. In 1947 the Fine Arts Center featured a one-man show of his scenic mountain views, and this same show was also well received at the Art Institute of Dayton, Ohio.
   After nearly 50 years in the photography business, in 1947 Standley sold his business to Stanley Balcomb and John Turner. Yet he continued to work for the new owners on a part-time basis and was actually in the office the day prior to his death. Harry Landis Standley died of a heart attack on March 15, 1951. He never married and his only known survivor was a sister, Hilda Standley.
   Today prices on Standley pictures vary widely. Often times they can be purchased for as little as $10-$25 if there is little competition at auction. Serious western hand-colored photography collectors will often push prices over $100 for the rarest titles in the best condition. At our auctions $25-$100 seems to be the norm for a nice, clean Standley hand-colored photograph.

Some Standley Titles:
Big Thompson Canon, Colorado
Dream Lake, Rocky Mt. National Park, Colorado
Long’s Peak and Bear Lakes, Estes Park, Colorado
Long’s Peak and Colorado Divide, Estes Park, Colorado
Lower Twin Lake and Twin Peaks, near Leadville, Colorado
Mt. Evans from Echo Lake, Colorado
Odessa Lake, Colorado
Odessa Lake, Estes Park, Colorado
Pikes Peak and Gateway to the Garden of the Gods, Colorado
Royal Gorge from Canon City, Colorado
Seven Falls, Colorado
Snowmass Lake from Outlet, Colorado
Wildcat Point, Lookout Mountain, Boulevard, Colorado
 

Special Note: This is only our first column on the extremely broad field of Early 20th c. Western Hand-Colored Photography. If you have any special knowledge of individual Western U.S. or Canadian Photographers who were selling hand-colored photos during the early 20th c., we would like to hear from you.
 

Michael Ivankovich is a collector, author, dealer and auctioneer specializing in early 20th century hand-colored photography and prints. E-Mail questions or inquiries can be directed to him at: mike@wnutting.com  Although E-Mail questions will be answered more quickly, you can also write him at: P.O.  Box 1536, Doylestown, PA 18901. If you want a reply, you must include a self-address-stamped- envelope. You can also visit his Internet web site at: www.wnutting.com. You are invited to send any interesting articles and facts concerning popular early 20th c. artists or hand-colored photographers for possible use in a future column