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Lawrence & Houseworth Photo NV - Virginia City,Storey County - 1876-77 - 2012aug - General Americana

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Western Americana Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 2,000.00 USD
Lawrence & Houseworth Photo NV - Virginia City,Storey County - 1876-77 - 2012aug - General Americana
Invoicing and lot pick up will NOT be available at the live auction.
An early, rare view of the famous mining town.One of the oldest established communities in Nevada, Virginia City traces its genesis to the Comstock Lode silver strike in 1859. At its peark the town was considered the wealthiest city in the United States and had a population in excess of 30,000 people. It is estimated that $400 million in silver was mined at the Comstock during its 20-year boom. But by 1898 the boom was over and the city's population decreased significantly. The photograph is undated but the location is identified on the verson, in pencil: "Virginia City looking west from mint. L & H." L & H was the Lawrence & Houseworth Publishing firm owned by former miners George S. Lawrence and Thomas Houseworth, who left the mines in 1851. By 1859 they were running an optical shop in San Francisco and began publishing stereographic images of California and the West. The date can be ascertained from the existance of St. Mary's hospital at right center, and the C & C shaft at top left. St. Mary's, a prominent three-story brick building still in existence.was built in 1876. The photo is mounted to a board for an overall size of 7.25" x 4.5." The board is chipped at upper right corner and is lightly foxed, but the image is fine. -59897