LOT Holabird-Kagin Americana  /  THE GOLDEN WEST AUCTIONS  / 

2277

San Francisco,CA - 1875-1906 - San Francisco Mint Photographs :

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:400.00 USD Estimated At:800.00 - 1,200.00 USD
San Francisco,CA - 1875-1906 - San Francisco Mint Photographs :
This is a lot of 3 photographs, all are different sizes. The first is the largest of the three, measuring 9 ½” x 7.” This photograph has the sharpest contrast, highest resolution and best quality of all three. The image was taken from an offset street view facing the building’s left corner. The grand staircase and large granite pillars are architectural standouts by the buildings main entrance. The photo details every window and most large sandstone and granite blocks used in its construction. Each wing of the building has a fenced in garden adjacent to the sidewalk. There are three men standing with a horse-drawn wagon in the bottom right corner of the photo. A lone horse and wagon are on the street to the left, and diagonal can be seen a faint pair of blurry pedestrians. This photo is mounted on a card stock backing and is in Very Good condition.
Second, a smaller, similar photograph taken c1874 of the San Francisco Mint’s left corner. This photo was taken mid-day and measures 8” x 5”. The contrast and clarity are of fair quality. On the street corner directly in the middle of the photo stand 3 men, the most notable of which is wearing tan slacks, has on a derby hat and is pointing towards the other two men with his right hand. The multi-colored blocks of sandstone and granite can be clearly seen; they alternate in a checkered dark: light pattern. The streets in the foreground are built of in-laid stones and through them run a grid of train tracks, following the intersecting streets. There is little to no damage to this photograph or its cardstock backing and is in good condition.
Third is the smallest of the three. It measures 6”x 4” and was taken just after the great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. The Mint was not destroyed in the earthquake. However, the fire did cause considerable damage. This photo conveys how many of the plate glass windows were melted by the intense heat and how as a result of the building’s heat, pressure increased and blew out many of the exterior materials such as large sections of granite and sandstone.
The street between the Mint and the adjacent building is being examined by two bystanders (one in the foreground wearing long overcoat and top hat; and the other blurred and standing to the right). Both men are small in comparison to the heaps of rubble and seas of ash that appear overwhelming in the frame. The top section was “whited-out” by a previous owner who had written “North end of building/where fire was hottest/windows boarded up after fire” to describe the scene. Besides this white section this photo is in fair condition.
Each photograph in the lot was taken of the second United States Mint at San Francisco. The original San Francisco Mint was constructed in 1854 to accommodate the supply of bullion from the California Gold Rush. The first year of the San Francisco mint, it created an estimated $4 million worth of coins from gold bullions. After deciding the original mint did not have sufficient space for the needed capacity, a new mint building was built in 1874. This second mint has a long run until 1937 when they began construction of the third mint building. In 1906, the year of the infamous San Francisco Earthquake, the mint building withstood the 7.9 shake, however took severe damage from fire. Around this time period, nearly 1/3 of all United States gold was housed in the San Francisco Mint building. Even though the third mint building is currently in use, the former still stands as a San Francisco landmark. “The Old Granite Lady” as it was dubbed is currently under renovation and is re-opening in 2012 as a museum and tourist attraction.
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