History: A very early Portrait Petzval lens for the 8x10 format. The lens is engraved with:

'No 1401 - R.WALZL - Balto'

Balto stands for Baltimore MD.  Richard Edmund Walzl (1843-1899), a German immigrant, opened his first photographic gallery in Baltimore in 1862. Walzl was an energetic entrepreneur. Walzl was not content to sell photographs, however. He sold photographic supplies, published journals, “The Photographer’s Friend” and, “Photographic Rays of Light” as well as books on photography, and involved himself in Baltimore’s public affairs. At the time of this death he was the most prosperous photographer and dealer in the Mid-Atlantic region.

A wonderfull piece of the early US photography history.

Condition: the lens is in very nice condition. The brass showing only minor wear. The rack & pinion is missing, but that is rather a cosmetical thing. The lens comes with a waterhouse slot (not stops included). The glass is mostly in a good condition, it shows some scratches and cleaning marks in the rearmost lens element, but that will not affect the image quality in the slightest. All in all i tested this beauty on the ground glass and the image was very nice with a very sharp center. 

This lens has about 300mm focal lenght (12") and an open aperture of F3.8 It will cover 5x7 and 8x10 format with a nice petzval character especially at portrait distance.

Lens comes with a fitting flange.

height: 17cm
width: 9.5cm
weight: 1950gr

Insured and tracked shipping cost:

Germany - 10 eur
EU* - 20 eur
Worldwide - 60 eur

*(the site offers only 2 shipping variations, DE and worldwide. buyers from EU please either contact me beforehand for a reduced EU cost, or after buying so i can send a refund over the difference)

Importent Note: This item comes from my private collection and is around 100 years old (antique). I try my best to describe all the faults and major damage which are relevant for the function of this item. But the actuall item can show signs of wear and also some cosmetic blemishes/damage which is not described in the auction text! When buying this item the buyer agrees to this terms.