Frederick Ferdinand Schafer Painting Catalog

Citations: Primary Painting Sales


Note: The list below is of nineteenth century sales of paintings by Schafer, mostly in auctions, for which the seller or consigner was (or probably was) Schafer himself. Some of the sales appear to be by dealers shedding excess inventory or liquidating. A reasonable assumption is that Schafer consigned paintings to those dealers, in which case those sales would still be primary.

Every such sale that has been discovered is listed here, whether or not it is cited elsewhere.

Most of these sales are known only by newspaper announcements or advertisements. Although in many cases an announcement or advertisement advises that a catalogue is available, very few of those catalogues have been located. Some catalogues that were reported located in the 1970's have since been lost. None are listed in Schwartz, Ellen Halteman, Nineteenth Century San Francisco Art Exhibition Catalogs.

Note that the San Francisco addresses given here pre-date the 1906 earthquake and fire.

See also the list of All auction sales, which has more information about these primary sales and also includes modern-day auctions.


Primary painting sales by date

  • 5 October 1876, in San Francisco, by R. D. W. Davis & Co. Many artists, including an "F Shafer". See the advertisement in the San Francisco Evening Bulletin.

  • 22 February 1881, in San Francisco, by Old War Horse. Many artists. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle.

  • 28 February and 1 March 1881, in San Francisco, by Old War Horse. Many artists. See the advertisement in the (San Francisco) Daily Alta California.

  • 6 June 1881, in Grass Valley, California, by C. P. Troy. Many artists. See the notice in the Grass Valley (California) Daily Union.

  • 24 June 1881, in Sacramento, California, by C. P. Troy. Many artists. See the notice in the Sacramento Daily Record-Union.

  • 13 October 1881, in San Francisco, by George F. Lamson. Many artists. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle.

  • 16 November 1881, in San Francisco, by C. P. Troy. Many artists. See the advertisement and the continuation one week later in the San Francisco Chronicle

  • 26 November 1881, in San Francisco, by George F. Lamson. Continuing the sale of 13 October 1881. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle.

  • 29 December 1881, in San Jose, California, by an unidentified auctioneer. Many artists. See the announcement in the San Jose Mercury.

  • December 1881 (exact date uncertain), in Oakland, California, by Bradley Adan Armstrong. Many artists. See the notice in the Oakland Tribune.

  • 24 January 1882, in Los Angeles, by Northcrafts & Clark. Many artists, including a "Schaeffer". See the advertisement in the Los Angeles Herald.

  • 15 July 1882, in San Francisco, by C. P. Troy. Many artists. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle.

  • 19 July 1882, in San Francisco, by George C. Ludington. Many artists See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle.

  • 29 July 1882, in San Francisco, by C. P. Troy. Many artists. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle.

  • 9 August 1882, in San Francisco, by George C. Ludington. Many artists. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle and the outcome report in the (San Francisco) Daily Alta California. A second outcome report also appeared in the San Francisco Evening Bulletin.

  • 11 August 1882, in San Francisco, by George D. Morse Gallery. Two Schafer paintings. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Evening Bulletin.

  • 22 September 1882, in San Francisco, by George F. Lamson. Many artists. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Evening Bulletin and the sale catalog.

  • 25 November 1882, in Sacramento, by Sherburn & Smith. Multiple artists. See the notices in the Sacramento Daily Record-Union.

  • 13 December 1882, in Los Angeles, by an unidentified auctioneer. Many artists. See the announcement in the Los Angeles Herald.

  • 21 June 1883, in San Francisco, by George C. Ludington, "at the Artrooms of Messrs. McCool & Armstrong, No. 813 Market Street Near Fourth Street" Many artists. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle.

  • 13 July 1883, in San Francisco, by George C. Ludington, "at the Artrooms of Messrs. McCool & Armstrong, No. 813 Market Street Near Fourth Street" Many artists. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle.

  • 20 September 1883, in San Francisco, by George C. Ludington, "at the salesroom of Messrs. McCool & Armstrong, No. 813 Market Street Near Fourth Street" Many artists. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle.

  • 2 November 1883, in San Francisco, by George C. Ludington. Many artists. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle.

  • 22 November 1883, in San Francisco, Easton and Eldridge (George C. Ludington, auctioneer). 184 Schafer paintings. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle.

  • 14 December 1883, in Sacramento, California, by Bell & Co. Many artists. See the advertisement in the Sacramento Daily Record-Union.

  • 26, 27, and 29 December 1883, in San Francisco, by George C. Ludington. "Dissolution of Copartnership, Retiring from Busines…the stock of of Messrs. McCool & Armstrong". Many artists. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle.

  • 29 February–1 March 1884, in Sacramento, California, by Bell & Co. Many artists. See the advertisement in the Sacramento Daily Record-Union.

  • 11 and 12 April 1884, in Sacramento, California, by Bell & Co. Many artists. See the advertisement in the Sacramento Daily Record-Union.

  • 6 and 7 May 1884, in San Jose, California, by J.C. Bland and Company. Many artists. See the advertisement in the (San Jose, California) The Evening News.

  • 18 September 1884, in San Francisco, by Easton and Eldridge. All Schafer. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Evening Bulletin.

  • 10 November 1884 to 12 November 1884, in San Francisco, by C. P. Troy. Many artists. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle.

  • 19 November 1884, in San Francisco, by George F. Lamson. Many artists. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle.

  • 2 December 1884, in Sacramento, by Bell & Co. Many artists. See the advertisement in the Sacramento Daily Record-Union.

  • 6 December 1884, in San Francisco, by George F. Lamson. Many artists. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle.

  • 22 December 1884, in Stockton, California, by C. P. Troy. Many artists. See the announcement in the (Stockton, California) The Evening Mail.

  • 18 February 1885, in Santa Cruz, California, by C. P. Troy. Many artists. See the notice in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

  • 9 March 1885, in San Francisco, by C. P. Troy. Many artists. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle.

  • 2–3 July 1885, in Victoria, British Columbia, by W. R. Clarke. All Schafer. See the catalog in the (Victoria, British Columbia) The Daily Colonist.

  • 8 August 1885, in Tacoma, Washington, by an unidentified auctioneer. All Schafer. See the announcement in the (Tacoma, Washington) The Daily/Sunday Ledger.

  • 17 November 1885, in San Francisco, by C. P. Troy. All Schafer. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle and the catalog.

  • 21 November 1885, in San Francisco, by C. P. Troy. This sale appears to be just a continuation of the 17 November sale.

  • 14 and 15 December 1885, in San Francisco, by C. P. Troy All Schafer. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle

  • 23 May - 1 June 1886, in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, by C. P. Troy. All Schafer, 75 paintings. See the sale catalog.

  • 22 June 1886, in Ogden, Utah Territory, probably by C. P. Troy. All Schafer. see the newspaper report in the (Ogden, Utah) The Standard of 22 June 1886.

  • 17 November 1886, in San Francisco, by William Butterfield, Bovee, Toy and Co. All Schafer. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle.

  • 15 December 1886, in Los Angeles, by Easton and Eldridge. All Schafer, 47 paintings, 20 sketches.. See the advertisement in the Los Angeles Herald.

  • 3 February 1887, in Los Angeles, California, by G. A. Fisher. All Schafer, 35 paintings. See the advertisement in the Los Angeles Herald.

  • 11 and 12 March 1887, in San Jose, California, by an unidentified auctioneer. All Schafer. The notice in the (San Jose, California) The Evening News seems to be a version of a press release also used in announcing sales in Los Angeles and Sacramento.

  • 14 and 15 April 1887, in Sacramento, California, by G. A. Fisher. All Schafer. See the advertisement in the Sacramento Daily Record-Union.

  • July 1887 (exact dates uncertain), in Oakland, California, by Bradley Adan Armstrong. Many artists. See the notice in the Oakland Tribune.

  • 1 November 1887 to 3 November 1887, in San Francisco, California, by "F. Schafer". Although listed in the auctions section, this may be an exhibition and sale mounted by the artist himself, rather than an auction. About 75 Schafer paintings. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Evening Bulletin.

  • 9 December to 12 December 1887, in Los Angeles, California, by an unidentified auctioneer. All Schafer. See the announcement in the Los Angeles Herald.

  • 28–28 December 1887, in Los Angeles, California, by an unidentified auctioneer. All Schafer. See the announcement in the (Los Angeles) The Evening Express.

  • 16 February 1888, at Harmonie Hall, Alameda, California, by William Butterfield. All Schafer. See the announcement in the (semi-weekly) Alameda Argus.

  • 26 June 1888, in San Francisco, California, by F. T. Keelor (sic). Many artists. See the advertisement in the (San Francisco) Daily Alta California.

  • 11 June 1889, in San Francisco, by C. P. Troy All Schafer. See the advertisement in the (San Francisco) Daily Alta California.

  • 17 June 1889, in San Francisco, by C. P. Troy. All Schafer. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle (continuation of 11 June 1889 sale.).

  • 18-23 November 1889, in San Francisco, by C. P. Troy. All Schafer, 98 paintings. See the advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle

  • 11 December 1889, in Tacoma, Washington, by an unidentified auctioneer. All Schafer. See the series of three newspaper clippings starting with the 10 December 1899 edition of the (Tacoma, Washington) The Daily/Sunday Ledger.

  • 27 May through 2 June 1890, in Seattle, Washington, by C. P. Troy. All Schafer, "over 100" paintings. See the advertisement in The Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

  • 20-23(?) May 1891, in Alameda, California, by Oscar S. Meysel. All Schafer. See the notice in the Alameda Argus of 20 May 1891.

  • 27-30 May 1891, in Santa Cruz, California, by Oscar S. Meysel. All Schafer. See the advertisement in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

  • 7-11 September 1891, in Vancouver, British Columbia, by Archibald Murray Beattie. All Schafer. See the notice in the Vancouver Daily World.

  • 28 September-2 October 1891, at Herring's Opera House in New Westminster (a suburb of Vancouver), British Columbia, by C. P. Troy. All Schafer. See a series of 10 notices in (New Westminster, British Columbia) The Daily Columbian and (New Westminster, British Columbia) The Morning Ledger.

  • 19-21 November 1891, in Ogden, Utah Territory, by C. P. Troy. All Schafer,"over one hundred" paintings See the notice in the (Ogden, Utah) The Standard.

  • 24-31 December 1891, in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, by C. P. Troy. All Schafer, 90 paintings. See the notice in the (Salt Lake City) Daily Tribune.

  • 31 May-2 June 1892, at Turn Verein Hall in San Jose, California, by an unidentified seller. Schafer's "collection" with a few paintings by Virgilio Tojetti. See the series of articles in the San Jose Mercury.

  • 21-24 May 1894, in San Francisco, California, by Frank T. Keelar. All Schafer, 75 paintings. See the advertisements in the San Francisco Chronicle.

  • 2 August 1894, in Los Angeles, California, by Matlock & Reed, Auctioneers. All Schafer, 83 paintings. See the advertisement in the Los Angeles Herald.

  • 22 and 23 August 1895, in Portland, Oregon, by Colonel Keelar (probably Frank T. Keelar) General auction, including 40 Schafer paintings. See the advertisement in the (Portland, Oregon) Morning Oregonian.

  • 29 January 1897, in Los Angeles, California, by Frank T. Keelar. All Schafer, 30 paintings. See the advertisement in the Los Angeles Herald.


Title list
Other lists
Help About the Artist Copyright Notice Schafer Catalog Home Page
Comments, corrections, or questions: Saltzer@mit.edu
Mar 10, 2024, 11:47 MDT Accessibility