I think this is a stunner, and also a historically notable document, about which I have done some piecing together of information that leads me to believe (exciting to me!) that it captures the convergence of photographer David Lamon and prospector, capitalist and philanthropist Winfield Scott Stratton, who made his fortune in gold mining in and around Cripple Creek, Colorado---with one of the area's rich gold veins apparently discovered by none other than David Lamon in 1895!
Originally from New York state, Lamon left for the West as a young man in the mid 1880s to seek his fortune, learning photography along the way and settling in Denver, where he operated a few different studios. It was a few years later he made national news by discovering gold near Cripple Creek. Stratton, from Indiana, was trained as a carpenter then studied geology at Colorado College and metalurgy at Colorado School of Mines. In 1874, he began prospecting for gold and silver in the summers, going on to file a claim for the Independence mine in Cripple Creek in 1891; his investments there would make him the first millionaire of the Cripple Creek Gold Rush by the end of the decade.
It is my belief that this photo, signed by David Lamon on reverse, was taken early on in this saga, and documents some of Stratton's early commercial developments around Cripple Creek: a meat market with his name on it and a bakery, too. In between resides what I presume is Lamon's photography tent. I've found a handful of other photographs by Lamon out there from the late 1880s-early 1890s, indicating that he was actively traveling around documenting developing cities and town in Colorado, and it seems quite possible he and Stratton converged for the first time here, perhaps forming a bond that would bring Lamon back to prospect for himself--though not impossible that he closed up his tent here to go do exactly that! I don't know for sure, but a lot of Colorado history contained in this one I think--as well as a little dog at far right, captured as what looks like a shadow! Great sign on the window of the bakery, too: Butter and Eggs. All very filmic and atmospheric. I love this one very much.
7/16" x 4 1/4" and in good antique condition. Wear/bumping to the corners and creasing to upper left corner.