Well there may be some original photos there. Beethoven died in 1827. Schubert in 1828. Wagner died in 1883. Mendelssohn died in 1847.
Mozart died in 1791 and Hayden died in 1809 would be far less likely, but the camera might have been used in creation of some other type of artwork. At that point they new how a hole could act as a lens and how it could project an image on paper. Yet storing and fixing images were a much bigger deal.
Now my music history is over 25 years old now, but Beethoven and Wagner were considered almost rock stars of the day. IF the technology existed at the time, they would have been the type of people that would have had access to the technology through there patrons. So would Mendelssohn and Schubert. On staff musicians were common during the time frame if you were rich. You didn't have a CD player or I pod. IF you wanted music, you called Mozart. He was paid to play.
Regardless, I would treat this as a real treasure until you are certain. Even if they are not photos, they still may have great value both from a historical and monetary perspective.
--- On Sat, 12/6/08, Trevor Cunningham <trevor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> From: Trevor Cunningham <trevor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: question about a photographer
> To: "List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students" <photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Saturday, December 6, 2008, 8:06 PM
> A couple of things, most of the Google results I get for
> this name
> indicate it is actually two different people (one Ullstein
> and the
> other Nicolai), I also get references for works published
> post 1980. I
> simply can't get over the mathematical logic that your
> list of people
> predates chemical photographic processes, with the
> exceptions of Wagner
> and Mendelssohn, who might have had opportunity to sit for
> several
> minutes while their photo was taken...although, musicians
> tend to be
> rather kinetic folks. Perhaps, this, and the earlier
> composers had
> their portraits made using a camera obscura (rather popular
> with
> artists of their time) and Ullstein/Nicolai are publishers
> or editors?
>
>
>
> Or else, you have a twisted sense of humor and are very
> bored.
>
>
>
> Formyrotts@xxxxxxx wrote:
> In a message dated 12/6/2008 5:50:33 PM
> Eastern Standard Time, trevor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
>
>
>
> "Actual"
> photographs of who?
>
>
>
>
> >>I have a rectangular frame with 6 photos in it, all
> musicians,
> Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Wagner, Mendelssohn, and Hadn.
> They are
> actual photos taken by Mr. Nicolai. << Linda :)
