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1899 Four Original Photos of GEORGE DEWEY the Hero of the Spanish-American War

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:400.00 - 500.00 USD
1899 Four Original Photos of GEORGE DEWEY the Hero of the Spanish-American War
Autographs
Four “Hero of the Spanish-American War” 1899 Photos
(GEORGE DEWEY) (1837-1917). Admiral and the “Hero of the Spanish-American War, wiping out the Spanish Fleet at Manila Bay with virtually no American casualties, less than a year before these photos were taken. His heroics jumped him in grade so that on March 2, 1899, he became the senior Admiral in the U.S. Navy with the rank “Admiral of the Navy” for life. His popularity also resulted in his becoming a presidential candidate in 1904.
Four original Sepia-toned Photos of Admiral George Dewey and Colonel Denby onboard his flagship, the Olympia, at Manila Bay, taken by Dean Worcester, U.S. Commissioner to the Philippine Islands (likely unpublished), Very Fine. Lightly toned, each photo with some fading. Accompanied by a 1 page, Typed Letter Signed, “Dean C. Worcester” on official “UNITED STATES COMMISSION TO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS” letterhead, dated April 12, 1899, Manila, Philippines, addressed to Admiral Dewey on the Olympia, by which he transmits the photos to Dewey and gives details about the photos. Worcester, apparently also a photographic hobbyist besides a diplomat, describes the various photos, defending one (i.e., “I had the sea as a background and it was too bright”) and expressing pride in another (i.e., “I like very much indeed the picture numbered 1, which was taken without your knowing it… Number 3 was taken without your knowledge again, when you and Colonel Denby were watching the target practice...”). (5 items)

Photos are 4.5” x 6.5” and inserted onto 10.5” x 8” letterhead sheets that are numbered on the original sheets so that they still match up with the letter.

(5 items)

Provenance: Collection of Ambassador J. William Middendorf II.
George Dewey (1837-1917) was “the” hero of the Spanish American War, wiping out the Spanish Fleet at Manila Bay with virtually no American casualties, less than a year before these photos were taken. His heroics jumped him in grade so that on March 2, 1899, he became the senior Admiral in the U.S. Navy with the rank “Admiral of the Navy” for life. His popularity also resulted in his becoming a presidential candidate in 1904.

Charles Denby (1830-1904) was a U.S. Philippine Commissioner at the time of these photos. During the Civil War, Denby was Colonel of the 80th Indiana Vols., and was U.S. Minister to China from 1885-98. In 1898, he was appointed a member of the Commissioner to investigate the war with Spain.

Dean C. Worcester (1866-1924) was a member of the Steere scientific expedition to the Philippine Islands from 1887-88. He was also one of two men to conduct the Menege Scientific Expedition to the Philippine Islands from 1890-93. In 1899, at the time he took these photos, he, along with Denby, was a member of the U.S. Philippine Commission. From 1901-13, he was Secretary of the Interior of the Philippine Insular Govt., and became a wealthy businessman there.