Gelatin silver prints on original cardboard mounts, one is titled Little Switzerland: The Snake Doctor and bears the following typed description on the mount verso: "This old man lives near Little Switzerland, N.C., and makes his living catching rattle snakes, cutting them up, and soaking them in corn whiskey. These he doles out to the consumptives in his community," each pencil signed "Bayard Wootten" on the mount, unframed.

Sheet Size 13 7/8 x 10 3/4 in.; Mount 20 3/4 x 16 7/8 in.

Chapel Hill Public Library, Chapel Hill, NC

Bayard Wootten was a native of New Bern, North Carolina who pioneered field photography for women. She is best known for her haunting portraits of rural Southerners, such as the stunning examples offered here.

Several nicks at edges and some toning; small stain upper left corner of the first; some staining and tears/loss to cardboard mounts.

$400 - 800