For Sale, a Photo of the Man Who Took Some of the Most Iconic Early Pictures of Dallas

Friend of Unfair Park PeterK, who knows of my affection for old Dallas photos, sends word of this rare gem for sale on eBay: a portrait — or, perhaps, a self-portrait — of Charles Erwin Arnold. If you’re unfamiliar with the name (or the nickname, “Painter of the Lens”), perhaps you’ve seen some of his photographs of Dallas circa 1900, about 700 of which are in the possession of the Dallas Historical Society; even more reside in the John W. Carpenter Special Collection at the University of Texas at Arlington. Notes Peter, who’s well familiar with Arnold’s work, this is the “first time I’ve ever seen of a photo of him.” And now it can be yours for the low, low price of … $29.99? Seems quite the steal. As a side note, Arnold also set up “Dallas’ first police ballistics and crime lab.”