FOUR STEREOSCOPIC PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CENTRAL PACIFIC RAILROAD AND PALISADE CANYON TAKEN FOR THE C. P. R. R. BY ALFRED A. HART FROM 1864 TO 1869. Four of the 364 photographs Hart made for the C. P. R. R. who used them to promote the progress of construction and raise capital from investors. Hart was fired by the railroad after construction was completed. It appears that, in addition to the 32 stereo negatives Hart sold to the railroad in January 1866, they retained control of the remainder of his negatives as well, and authorized others to print some or all of them, including Thomas Houseworth & Co. and Carleton E. Watkins, none of whom credited Hart as the photographer. "By 1870 Carleton E. Watkins was at work publishing most of the Hart C. P. R. R. negatives, with Hart's original numbers and nearly identical titles, but without credit to Hart. Watkins mounted the prints from the Hart negatives on cards identified as 'Watkins' Pacific Railroad,' 'Central Pacific Railroad,' 'Watkins' Pacific Coast,' and after 1876 'Watkins' New Series, Central and Union Pacific R. R's.' This latter group also included photographs of the Union and Central Pacific Railroads actually taken by Watkins. Watkins and C. P. Huntington (Vice President of the Central Pacific) were friends ... This may have influenced the transfer of the use of the negatives, although Watkins was already recognized as one of the best and most visible photographers in the West and had previously done work for the C. P. R. R. in 1869" (Kibbey, p. 69). The four images are Watkins' reissues: (1) GIANT'S GAP, AMERICAN RIVER, 2500 FEET PERPENDICULAR. 72 MILES FROM SACRAMENTO. No 76. ("Watkins' Pacific Railroad," 22 & 26 Montgomery Street, n.d., circa 1871-1875); (2) LITTLE BLUE CANYON, 74 MILES FROM SACRAMENTO. No. 81 ("Watkins Pacific Railroad" series, 22 and 26 Montgomery Street, circa 1871-1875); (3) TUNNEL NO. 12, STRONG'S CAÑON. No. 257 ("Central Pacific Railroad" series, 429 Montgomery Street, circa 1870-1871); and (4) VIEW ACROSS RIVER AND CAÑON, FROM TOP OF PALISADES. No. 341 ("Watkins' Central Pacific R. R." series, [22 and] 26 Montgomery Street, circa 1871-1875). The last image was made in Nevada along the Humboldt River, Eureka County. Palisade Canyon was also called "12 Mile" and "10 Mile" Canyon. Very good overall. (#166959).
Price: $300.00
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