Content Description

One photograph album titled Views in California (also known as 12 Views in California and San Francisco Album) photographed by G.R. (George Robinson) Fardon and published in 1856. Contains the earliest published photographic record of an American city. Photographs document the early development of downtown San Francisco. The album is arranged with images on right side and handwritten labels on left side. Images include the following San Francisco locations (identified in with handwritten labels): "Monumental" Brenham Place (also know as Monumental Engine house, on the Plaza); the First Methodist Church, Powell between Washington and Jackson; Sansome Engine House, Gold and Sansome Streets; Grace Church, Powell between Jackson and Pacific; the Custom House, Washington and Battery Streets; St. Mary's Cathedral, California and Dupont Streets; Pacific No. 8 (Firehouse), front between Jackson and Pacific; Merchants' Exchange, Battery and Washington Streets; Empire No. 1 (Firehouse), Sacramento Street, between Kearny and Dupont Streets; Knickerbocker (Firehouse), north side, Sacramento Street near Sansome Street; Columbian (Firehouse), Bush Street above Kearny Street; Old American Theater, Sansome and Halleck Streets, torn down June 1854. First page with photograph is also labeled by hand: "12 Views in California" and "Views in California." Photographs and small label at bottom left of each photograph are affixed to the pages of the album. Label is a salt print printed: "G.R. Fardon", but is faded beyond visibility in most cases. Photograph album does not contain a title page or index. Photograph album is housed with a pannotype portrait of John Henry Link, son of James Lick, an early San Francisco real estate investor. The pannotype portrait is printed on leather and was taken by George Robinson Fardon, circa 1856-1858, and is stamped with Fardon's mark on the back of the photograph.

Provenance

Gift of Templeton Crocker; no deed of gift paperwork.

Restrictions Apply

No