Writer owns daguerreotypes of Revolutionary War vets

Deseret Morning News reporter Joe Bauman is writing a book about the life of five Revolutionary War veterans whose daguerreotypes he owns.

The Daniel Spencer daguerreotype was purchased in the early 1990s by Scott Brasseur, who, with Beth Brasseur, are well-known antiques collectors and dealers in Prospect, Pa.

Brasseur wrote to Bauman: "I bought it from another dealer in the early 1990s who acquired it from an estate in Pittsburgh, Pa. I tried to get more details but the dealer said the family selling parts of the estate had asked for privacy."

In 2003, the image was consigned to a noted online auction, and Bauman attempted to purchase it, but his computer could not establish a link and it went to a well-known collector and dealer in Massachusetts. Recently Bauman tracked down the dealer through the auction house and was able to purchase the image.

The image and the other daguerreotypes are kept in a bank safety deposit box.