1096 WONDERFUL ARCHIVE OF EARLY ALASKAN PHOTOS FROM THE

SOLD
500.00USDto floor+ buyer's premium
This item SOLD at 2023 Aug 29 @ 11:15UTC-4 : AST/EDT
Category Collectibles
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,000.00 USD
Estimated at 2,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD

EARLY 1920s AMASSED BY COLONEL FREDERICK MEARS. Colonel Mears served as chief engineer and later chairman of the Alaskan Engineering Commission which completed the Alaskan Railroad System over a period of years; finishing in 1923. This archive documents Mears and his family's trip and time at his post at Chilkoot Barracks in Alaska. Lot includes an old 13 1/2" x 10 3/4" photo album consisting of approximately 63 pages, each page illustrating 4-5 images of various scenes in Alaska, Alaska life; a number of those images have writing on the page with information about the images. There are numerous photos of sled dogs and sledding in early Anchorage, and also include family images of different members of the family; many are identified. Numerous photos of hunting and fishing scenes. One shot depicts a hunter displaying a huge bald eagle which he shot, photos of grizzly bears, glaciers, some panoramic scenes near the ocean, depicting village and mountainous scenes, some images of Inuits including an eskimo harvesting a seal with spear, images of totem poles and many early images of Anchorage. One photo or photo postcard depicts Soapy Smith, some mining scenes, some images of mounted police, some of a winter parade at Chilcoot Barracks in 1923 and much more. Accompanying the photo album is an old wooden box 12 3/4" x 11" containing approximately fifty 4" x 3 1/4" old glass plates/slides depicting many of the images that are found in the photo album. Between the photo album and these glass plates, it’s an excellent depiction of the early days in the evolution of Anchorage, Alaska. In addition to the photos is a book of poems titled "Poems of Klondykes Early Days and Alaska’s Long White Trail", these are photos of the Klondyke stampede taken in 1897-98 and copyright in 1921. Also included is an 8" x 10" black and white image titled "Mirage of Mt. McKinley". A pamphlet for the Department of the Interior titled "The Alaska Railroad and Riverboat Service" by the Alaska Engineering Commission, dated June 5-8, 1923, it covers an all day light tour through the heart of Alaska noting various specific points of interest. Also a pamphlet from the period titled "Alaska the Land of the Midnight Sun: A Guide to Ketchikan". Also another booklet titled "Totem Lore of Alaskan Indians", this signed (signature indiscernible) and noted Alaska 1924 by Reverend H.P. Corser, approximately 10" x 7". The pamphlet has many stories and information about the various tribes and numerous black and white images of totem poles, Indian villages, Indians etc. CONDITION: photo album is essentially missing both front and back cover, and on average the lot is generally in good condition. (05-106/JJ). $2,000-4,000.