Holding tight against the powerful currents of the "Missouri" the J.W. Spencer and its full load of passengers pose for the photographer Benjamin Franklin Oliver (Bennie) and his very modern 1880's field camera. This was a special day for the Spencer and all the passengers on board dressed in their "Sunday Best." It would be the last ferryboat to toil crossing the Missouri River at Jefferson City.

Bennie didn't hurry the picture, so many people to ask to hold still for the exposure, it had to be perfect. He knew that waiting just up river from the ferry boat the brand new Missouri River Bridge was about to open. Coaches and dignitaries were waiting for him and his rare field camera to capture that moment also. He chuckled when he saw Mark Twain's version of Huck Finn, muddy feet and all, hanging over the front rail. Like Samuel Clements in his boyhood years, this young man was likely a working member of the J.W. Spencer crew. The shutter cap was off, one, two, three, and back on. It was a bright day. He was sure the exposure time would be fine.

With the 8"x10" glass plate negative safely stowed in his travel pouch Bennie climbed into his buggy and headed up river for the new bridge.

His photograph of the Spencer and its passengers was more than perfect. Described by archives and gallery owners, today, its presentation by digital mastering and enlargement opens the visual door of the 1800's for all to enjoy and own a rare part of our history. The crop and enlargement of the boy on the rail gives you the clue to all the fabulous detail that becomes visible with high quality art prints of his works.

The photos in the Benjamin Franklin Oliver collection have been digitized at a resolution approximately twice that of National Archives and Records Administration standards for digitization and digitally retouched to remove gross and obvious flaws, saved in a lossless graphics image format, and then printed to exceptional fine art quality paper using the giclée process to assure exceptional viewing quality.

12"x15" prints on quality matte paper are just $45. Available from Richard O. Snelson
(217)972-7435 I will accept paypal. Email me at rich@oliverphotocollection.com and I will reply with my paypal email address.