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Description

19th-Century Boudoir Card Photograph of San Diego

A scarce late 19th-century view of downtown San Diego, with Point Loma and Coronado in the distant background. The built environment and skyline of the city is clearly visible, with several business signs and advertisements on walls discernable: City Drug Store, Brewster Hotel, a real estate office, and Whittier, Fuller & Co., wholesale agents. An ornate Victorian home is prominently in the foreground, while a few horse-drawn carriages can be seen in the dusty streets. The photograph, which is unsigned, may be by Henry Ellis Coonley (1865-1942), who was active in San Diego and specialized in such views of San Diego. A dealer's name is stamped in purple ink on the mount: "W. G. Walz Company / B. Burnell, Manager, San Diego." The verso of the mount has an additional stamp: "From the San Diego Curiosity Store / S. E. Cor. 5th & F Sts."

Burnell & Walz appear of operators of a Mexican art and curio store in advertisements in the San Diego Sud California Deutsche Zeitung from 1888 to 1890.

Rarity

Such 19th-century bird's eye view photographs of San Diego are becoming rare in the market.  

Condition Description
Original boudoir card format albumen photograph on card mount measuring 5 1/4 x 8 1/2 inches. Corners slightly worn. Some dust soiling. Overall a very nice image.