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Martinez,CA - Contra Costa County - pre 1906 - Grotto in the Garden of the Villa de la Salle Photogr

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Photographic Images Start Price:75.00 USD Estimated At:150.00 - 250.00 USD
Martinez,CA - Contra Costa County - pre 1906 - Grotto in the Garden of the Villa de la Salle Photogr
This interesting photo is a large format image of a grotto in a garden at the Villa de la Salle. Most noticable is a dog standing in the cavern entryway. A man is sitting in among the rocks and vines to the left of the dog. To the right, there are several steps leading up to a cemented inset containing a statue of the Virgin de Guadalupe. Various types of offerings have been left at the foot of the statue. The grotto is covered with rocks and vegetation of all sorts. A wooden hut made out of large twigs is to the far right of the photo in the background. Photo measures 10" by 8." It is mounted but there is no matting. The focus is sharp, contrast is medium. The photo has some foxing. All four corners of the photo have some wear and tear damage. There is a number on the bottom left front of the photo - B 2831. On the bottom right, Taber Photo, San Francisco. Written in pencil on the back "rare photo by Taber SF Cal." The photographer was I.W. Taber. After coming west to make his fortune in the Gold Rush, Taber returned east. Later Taber became a photographer specializing in large format images. He returned west to reside in California from 1864 to 1912, when he died. His photography studio was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake (Mautz).