Identity:

Albert van Wagner was a barrister, a member of the Union Club, and possibly a collector.

Life:

Of Dutch origin, Van Wagner was born in New York state and was educated at the Union College, in the town of Schenectady. He went on to study law, and was called to the American bar in 1864, later settling in New York City where he established a successful practice. In England in 1874, after a failed banking deal, he decided to remain there and he was later appointed United States Commissioner in London for the Alabama Claims and Standing Counsel to the United States Consulate. In 1885 he was in contact with JW, and he held an 'egg nogg' party on the Fourth of July (see #03470).

Bibliography:

Times, London, 9 July 1885, p. 8; St Stephens Review, 3 April 1886; Lugt, Frits, Les marques de collections de dessins et d'estampes: marques estampillèes et écrites de collections particulières et publiques; marques de marchands, de monteurs et d'imprimeurs; etc..., Amsterdam, 1921, no. 2541a; information from family descendant.