4021

Donner Lake, California Framed Photograph, c.1889, Possibly by WH Jackson [203767]

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Photographic Images - Antique Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Donner Lake, California Framed Photograph, c.1889, Possibly by WH Jackson [203767]
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Original oak frame is 28 x 73.5". Image is 20 x 65.5" Brass plaque that says "Donner Lake, California." No photographer signature or notation. Frame is nearly identical in all respects to one we sold in 2013 of the Hotel Del Monte by WH Jackson for the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Noted Western photographer William henry Jackson has had numerous biographies written, primarily on his life as a Colorado photographer, and also for the Detroit Photographic Company. But almost nothing has been summarized on his activity in California, which was unquestionably extensive.

Jackson had done a significant amount of work for the Denver & Rio Grande RR Co. prior to 1889. In 1888, Jackson and his wife traveled to the San Francisco Bay area, well noted in local press. About that time, Jackson probably began negotiations with the Atchinson, Topeka and Santa Fe RR on a proposal for a promotional photographic endeavor for the railroad. Before those negotiations were completed, Jackson had cut a deal of some kind with the Southern Pacific RR, which he probably used on his 1888 and later 1889 trips to San Francisco from Denver. The SPRR photography venture was mentioned in local press, and undoubtedly resulted in hundreds of photographs taken, though it is unknown if a list survives. This photo of Donner is, in all probability, one of his early works from this 1888 -1889 period.

Jackson then ventured south, possibly on the Santa Fe line, to southern California, where it was announced that he now had a very special deal with Santa Fe, where they provided him with his own photograph lab and rail car for use in photographing southern California and eastward on the Santa Fe line. Also during the early 1890s, Jackson ventured south into Mexico, taking more than 600 negatives, as reported in local so cal press.

The photo was recovered by carpenter Einar Hanson in 1945 after the Benecia fire.
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Date:
Country (if not USA):
State: California
City: Donner Lake
Provenance: