[Photograph album]: "Views In and About San Francisco" [and] "Santa Clara Valley" [and] "Yosemite and the Big Trees of California."

Author: WILLIAMS, Albert L.
Title: [Photograph album]: "Views In and About San Francisco" [and] "Santa Clara Valley" [and] "Yosemite and the Big Trees of California."
Publication: San Francisco, Santa Clara and Yosemite National Park: 1898-1902

Description: Hardcover. Oblong folio. Measuring 14.5" x 11.5". String-tied cloth boards with "Photographs" in gilt on front board. Contains 167 albumen photographs printed on high gloss photographic paper. Introductory presentation photograph that reads: "To Mabel from Bert" on front pastedown followed by 103 images of the San Francisco Bay Area; 29 images of Santa Clara; and 34 images of the Yosemite area. Sizes vary, although most are a variant of 3" x 4". A few have been artfully trimmed, and perhaps about one half of the images have been captioned. The final image is of a well-dressed young man seated on a swing captioned: "Yours Truly, Albert L. Williams." Original string ties present but detached, modest wear on the boards, the presentation inscription is a bit smeared but still readable, some of the images show some fading but overall a near fine and very pleasing album.

Our research reveals that Albert L. Williams (b. circa 1877) was California-born, at various times a manufacturer of gloves and/or salesman of gentleman's furnishings. He was married to Mabel sometime between 1902 and 1906. By the time this album was compiled, most amateur photographers had switched to more easily usable Kodak cameras and technology. Williams's continued use of the albumen process indicates some devotion to the more complex process and a seriousness about his photography.

The album is divided into three sections, the first shows San Francisco and surrounding area: the Bay, Alcatraz, Mill Valley, the Sutro Baths, the Cliff House, Land's End, Fisherman's Wharf, Mission Delores, Golden Gate Park (with buffalo and elk grazing), the Tea Garden, and the Boathouse. Notable images include the Night Illumination of City Hall, the interior of the cavernous Ferry Depot, and nine images of Spanish-American War soldiers - likely the 1st California Volunteer Regiment - marching and at camp preparing to disembark for Manilla, with several images of the SS *City of Peking* and SS *City of Sydney* troopships in the Harbor. Other subjects include the lighthouses at Tiburon and Point Bonito, a few images of the campus of the University of California at Berkeley and the Deaf and Dumb Institute at Berkeley.

The final two sections feature the "Santa Clara Valley" with many bucolic images showing rustic tents and cabins along the Los Gatos Creek; the town of Wrights, including the creek and railroad; and assorted shots of the Russian River, the San Lorenzo River, Camp Taylor, Guerneville, and Glen Wood. The final section of "Yosemite and the Big Trees" include Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, Balance Rock, Wawona, Cascades from Vernal Falls, the Three Brothers, the Cap of Liberty and Nevada Falls, the Dead Giant, Glacier Point, the Grizzly Giant, Bridal Veil Fall, Half Dome, in the Sierra Mountains, the Merced River, and Glacier Point.

A nice group of unusually fine and lovingly compiled images exclusively devoted to California.

Seller ID: 420733

Subject: Photography