Amazing Early Photo Album with 186 Views of Southern California and the West

Item Details

1903

Excellent early photograph album with detailed photographs of Southern California and the western U.S. at the turn of the 20^th century. Mostly annotated, the views begin with homes and scenery in Colorado, then rapidly move to California. Many homes are shown in Los Angeles, including Pasadena, San Pedro, Redlands, and Riverside, as well as scenes in La Jolla (San Diego). There are many views of Mt Lowe (including the railway), the Santa Monica Pier and beach. Back to Colorado, we have early buildings in Denver and Colorado Springs, then up in the mountains on a train and on to Wyoming, including the Carnegie Library.  Utah is another stop with more homes including those of Brigham Young. Some “fun” images at the end are at Delevan Lake (Wisconsin), where we find some small panoramic views and one annotation with a 1903 date. A historian’s dream. (Shown as the lead image is my favorite—of a young woman sitting on a fence reading a book!)

There are approximately 186 real photographs and a few additional newsprint images (all glued down). Large album is 11”x15”, in good condition though there are a few cut-outs and a loose page in the back. The different sizes and clarity of most of the images makes it possible that this was professionally shot and assembled, though alas, it is unsigned.