On this day (January 8) in the year 1853, the following article appeared 
in "Gleason's Pictorial Drawing-Room Companion" (Boston; Vol.4, No.2; 
page 21):
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                   THE ANTHONY PRIZES.
   We present below a drawing of the lately awarded Anthony prizes, in 
New York city, for the best daguerreotypes.  The first prize for the 
best 4-4 daguerreotype taken with a 4-4 instrument is a massive silver 
pitcher, twenty inches in height and of sextagon shape, with grape vine 
in full leaf, and rich clusters of grape entwine its neck, illustrative 
of the rich receptacle of their delicious juice.  On the back of the 
pitcher are two tablets representing a landscape, with a cottage by a 
stream of water, a bridge by a stream of water, a bridge and woods in 
the distance.  On one side is the sun rising over a beautiful landscape, 
with a daguerreian apparatus, seemingly ready to catch the most 
interesting feature of the picture, as it throws its golden rays over 
the scene.  On the other side is represented a chemical laboratory--
showing that to chemistry the art is chiefly indebted; and on the two 
front tablets are portraits of those two illustrious artists--Daguerre 
and Niepce.  On the handle we have again the vine, on which is a lizard 
in the act of creeping to the mouth of the pitcher, the whole finished 
with a most exquisitely-chased base.  The second prize awarded for the 
best 1-2 size daguerreotype taken by a 1-2 size instrument consists of a 
pair of goblets--faithfully represented in the engraving--equally 
beautiful in workmanship, and tasteful in design.  These prizes, when 
judiciously offered and justly awarded, doubtless exert a very 
beneficial influence upon art, or whatever field of industry they apply 
to.  The art of daguerreotype picturing, whether of likenesses, of 
landscapes, or of architecture, is manifestly of vast importance, and 
has been brought to a very great stage of perfection within a very brief 
period of time.  It is in consideration of the importance of the art, 
that we are gratified to chronicle Mr. Anthony's liberality in offering 
these prizes for the best results by experiment in the art.


(The article is accompanied by a wood-engraving illustration of the 
pitcher and the goblets.  I will make a graphic file of the illustration 
available at a later date.  I will also mention that the Prize Pitcher 
was awarded to Jeremiah Gurney of New York.   --G.W.E.)
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Posted for your enjoyment.      Gary W. Ewer       
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01-08-96