The First Year of Color Lithography -- With 5 Illustrations of Portland's Chinatown
With Rare Printed Boards For The Complete Year
Fine example of the 1886 complete year of The West Shore magazine, the most elaborately illustrated publication published in the Northwest in the latter part of the 19th Century. Established in 1875, 1886 was the first year that The West Shore began to published views in color.
The 1886 year is filled with dozens striking single page, double page and folding illustrations, including early views of the City of Eugene, the University of Oregon, Salem, and interesting map and illustration showing the route from Puget Sound to Eastern Oregon, along with the usual menagerie of interesting natural history, resort, and urban views.
Of particular interest is a lengthy illustrated section descibing Portland's Chinatown, with elaborate images of Opium Dens, Gambling Dens, Chinese Restaurants, Theaters and a Chinese Funeral.
The illustrations produced by West Shore were among the most significant achievements of the magazine. Initially limited to black-and-white wood engravings, the magazine introduced color lithographs in the 1880s and later adopted halftone photoengraving. The illustrations captured the natural beauty, urban development, and industrial progress of the Pacific Northwest, creating a visual archive of the region as it transitioned into modernity. Samuel also operated the West Shore Lithographing and Engraving Company, which produced high-quality illustrations for catalogs, maps, printed labels, and business forms. This venture highlighted the technical skill of West Shore’s art staff and allowed the magazine to showcase its expertise in visual media.
A selection of the lithographs follows:
- High School, Portland, Oregon. Large folding tinted lithograph
- Portland, Oregon Chinatown [5 lithographs, including: A Night in Chinatown (gambling den, opium fiend); A Chinese Funeral]
- Oregon Pioneer's Reunion, with inset portrait of Dr. John McLoughlin
- Residences at Salem
- Elliott Glacier of Mt. Hood
- Portland, Oregon [bird's eye views]
- Oregon - General View of Mechanics' Fair [double-page panorama]
- Idaho - The Great Teton Range
- Northern California Headwaters of the Sacramento River
- John Day Valley Oregon
- A Glimpse of Ashland, Oregon
- Indian Types: A Digger, Old Seattle, "Good Dog" River Crow War Chief, Queen Charlotte Indians
- Eugene, Oregon [double-page bird's-eye view]
- Oregon, Glimpses of the State Fair
- Oregon - Multnomah Falls [double-page]
- Columbia River - Oneonta Gorge
- Map: The New Route from Puget Sound to Eastern Washington
Rarity
While single issues or small groups of West Shore magazine issue appear occasionally on the market, complete bound years with the original printed boards are extremely rare.
We note 2 examples of the 1887 in the past 50 years in RBH (PBA Galleries 2019 and Decker 1963).
We were unable to find any examples of the complete 1886 offered at auction.