Rare Souvenir Album of the 1894 California Mid-Winter Fair, Antique Lithographic Photo deals Album, California Exposition Souvenir

Antique souvenir view album from the 1894 Mid-Winter Fair held in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Printed in Germany and provided compliments of The New York Fair Store of Beloit, Wisconsin (B.C. Smiley Proprietor). The album contains 34 lithographic photo views (Albertypes) across 15 large accordion-fold panels, with a large advertisement stamped in gilt along the rear cover board (further described below). Albertypes are fine stone lithographs made from actual photos, a technique developed in Germany and specific to the late 19th Century. Views depict buildings and scenes throughout the Mid-Winter Fair and surrounding areas of California, including:

• Bird's Eye View of the Midwinter International Exposition at San Francisco (large two-page centerfold)
• Administration Building
• Moorish Restaurant and the Chinese Building (2 views)
• Mechanics Building, Agricultural Building, Electrical Tower, Fine Arts Building, and the Manufactures Building (5 views across two pages)
• Market Street in San Francisco, as viewed from Third Street
• New City Hall, Sand Lot, Chas. Crocker's Residence, All in San Francisco (3 views)
• Palace Hotel, Chinese Grand Restaurant, Upper Corridor of the Palace Hotel, Victoria Regia Observatory at Golden Gate Park, Chinese Josh House, and the Bazaar in Chinatown (6 views across two pages)
• Views of Yosemite Valley: The Nevada Fall, El Capitan, Burnt Section of Stump in Mariposa Grove, Cap of Liberty, Vernal Falls, Three Brothers & El Capitan, as well as a View of the Carmel Mission Established in 1770 (7 views across two pages)
• Wawona Tree Base with Wagon Driving Through, Fort Point Golden Gate, Sentinel Rock, Hotel Del Monte, and Monterey California (5 views across two pages)
• Arched Rock and the Natural Bridge at Santa Cruz, and Hydraulic Mining at Bloomfield (3 views)

The album is bound deals in yellowish-tan faux textured leather with the title stamped in gold gilt along the front cover. The interior pages are attached to one another accordion style. The rear of the album contains a great advertisement for the New York Fair Store, which states "Compliments of The New York Fair Store, On the Bridge, Beloit, Wis. / World and California Exhibit was Great, but cannot be compared to ours, OH NO! / Having just returned from New York City, where we bought for the Net Spot Cash, the Largest, Best Selected and by big odds, the Best Values ever brought to this market. We simply ask you to call, examine and compare prices with what you have been paying. We want the case trade of the country, and if low prices, courteous attention and big values will secure it, we are sure of it. B.C. Smiley, Prop."

Size:
Approx. 5-1/2" over by 8-3/4" tall

Condition:
Very good overall. The exterior has been well maintained, all of the pages remain securely attached, and the views are clean and unmarked throughout.


Additional 19th Century view albums, as well as guides books and other travel souvenirs, can be found in our shop at:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/bittenbenderandmoll?section_id=18794447

All convos will be answered within 24 hours!