Here is Ephraim M Epstein, probably age 20, probably about to set out for America from Belarus late in 1849 or early 1850... I want to use this in my story of his life. What a dishy young man! I found it in the book by his sister, Pauline Epstein Wengeroff, Rememberings, translated by Henny Wenkart, editor Bernard Dov Cooperman, an abridged edition published 2000 by University Press of Maryland.
There is another version of the book by his sister, in full, translated with introduction, notes and commentary by Shulamit Magnus. Pauline Wengeroff's book was originally published in Germany in about 1908 in two volumes under the title Memoirs of a Grandmother and that's the title of this version, vol 1 published in 2010 by Stanford University Press. Vol 2 due out this year. It too has pictures, but none of Ephraim -- though it is a very readable description of life in 19th c Jewish Russia.
Meanwhile, back to the hunt for young Ephraim. I have not been able to find the owner of the photograph, not even through contact with Bernard Cooperman who very helpfully provided leads to his sources from some 14 years ago. The marvellous quest of writing Ephraim's life has brought forth several long-lost and distant Epstein relations, but as yet none of them has this portrait of our ancestor.
Though copyright period is, I believe, long exceeded (160 years ago?) I hope to use this portrait on the cover and interior of The Notorious Dr Epstein, The story of the life of Ephraim M Epstein. So by this blog publication (and I will publish other internet appeals) I ask permission from anyone who holds rights to this photograph kindly to grant me use of it for this book -- please contact me!
