38 original albumen photographs, most approx. 31x21 cm (12¼x8¼"), a few a bit larger or smaller. Mounted on both sides of thick album leaves. Album measures 30x36 cm (11¾x14¼"), brown morocco with brass ornament mounted on front cover, brass corner bosses on rear cover, decorative gilt endpapers, all edges gilt.
Exceptional album of original 19th century photographs, most by San Francisco-based photographer and publisher Isaiah West Taber, who issued not only his own photographs, but also those taken by Carleton E. Watkins (whose negatives he acquired when Watkins suffered financial reverses), and other photographers. There are 27 photographs with Taber's imprint and title in the negative, and one attributed to him but without imprint or title. These include views of San Francisco, its streets, buildings, and outlying areas; stunning views of the wonders of Yosemite and the marvelous giant Sequoia groves; a view of the ferryboat "Solano" on the Sacramento River; etc. In addition, there are photographs by William Henry Jackson of Colorado and Utah; views attributed to C.R. Savage of the Mormon Tabernacle and Temple in Salt Lake City; and two photographs attributed to George Barker of Niagara Falls.
I.W. Taber
No. 1. San Francisco Bay. – Golden Gate from Telegraph Hill
A166 Market Street from Third Street, San Francisco, looking east.
A159 California Street from Kearny Street, San Francisco, looking west
A145 Palace Hotel, San Francisco, Cal.
A146 Court, Palace Hotel, San Francisco, Cal.
A413 Cliff House from Beach Drive
B532 Seal Rock, Pacific Ocean
A162 Charles Crocker’s Residence, San Francisco, Cal.
A78 Ferry-boat “Solano,” on the Sacramento River, Cal.
A334 Madera Coach, at Inspiration Point, Yosemite Valley.
A278 Sequoia Group, 270 feet high, Mariposa Grove.
A61 The “Grizzly Giant,” 32 feet diameter, nearly 300 feet high, Mariposa Grove, Cal.
A62 Section of the “Grizzly Giant,” 33 feet diameter, Mariposa Grove, Cal.
A4. The Valley from Mariposa Trail, Yosemite, Cal.
A270 “Wawona” – 28 feet diameter, 275 feet high – Mariposa Grove.
Untitled “vignette” view of waterfall, without imprint
A338 Nevada Fall.
A48 The Vernal Falls343 feet, Yosemite, Cal.
A28 The Three Brothers, 3.818 feet, reflected, Yosemite, Cal.
16 The Cathedral Spires, Yosemite, Cal.
A41 Glacier Point, 3,257 feet, Yosemite, Cal.
A137 El Capitan, 3,300 feet, Yosemite, Cal.
A302, Yosemite Falls.
A251 “Sentinel Rock,” 3,100 feet.
A300 Cascade Falls.
A38 The Domes, Yosemite, Cal.
A12 Cathedral Rock, 2,678 feet, Yosemite, Cal.
B1002 The Domes, from Glacier Point.
W.H. Jackson
Photograph of the Royal Gorge, with railroad lines, no title or imprint
18 Garden of the Gods and Pike’s Peak – title present, imprint clipped off
127 The Needle Mountains, from Animas Canon – title present, imprint clipped off
166 Castle Rock, Price Canyon, Utah
Photograph attributed to W.H. Jackson, of mining works apparently in Colorado
75 Valley of Los Pinos Looking West – oval view, with title but no imprint, attributed to Jackson
C.R. Savage (attributed)
Interior of the Mormon Tabernacle, no imprint or title
Mormon Tabernacle alongside partially constructed Mormon Temple, no imprint or title
George Barker (attributed)
Photograph of Niagara Falls, no imprint or title
Photograph of Niagara Falls, no imprint or title