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The Jim Crain Collection: Texas, California & the Old West

Fri, Nov 20, 2026 09:00AM EST
  2026-11-20 09:00:00 2026-11-20 09:00:00 America/New_York Fleischer's Auctions Fleischer's Auctions : The Jim Crain Collection: Texas, California & the Old West https://bid.fleischersauctions.com/auctions/fleischers-auctions/the-jim-crain-collection-texas-california-the-old-west-23552
The lifetime collection of author and photo historian, Jim Crain (1939-2025). The catalog is exclusively devoted to antique photography with an emphasis on the Old West, California, Texas, and Native Americana from 1840-1900.
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Lot 730

[CALIFORNIANA] 1860s Northern California Landscape Stereoviews

Estimate: $250 - $500
Starting Bid
$100

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $10
$100 $25
$300 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$50,000 $5,000

Impressive grouping of four (4) Northern California landscape stereoviews. Views include: 

 

1.) Upper Eagle Falls outdoor albumen stereoview. California: Lawrence A. Houseworth, 1866. Photographer's copyright and series identification printed to mount recto. Photographer's imprint printed to mount verso. 

Sierra cascade view showing whitewater descending granite ledges, with a solitary spectator posed atop a rock ledge above the falls.

 

2.) View on Donner Lake, Pollard's Head—the Summit outdoor albumen stereoview. California: Lawrence A. Houseworth, 1866. Photographer's copyright and series identification printed to mount recto. Photographer's imprint printed to mount verso. 

 Serene, mirror-like reflection landscape capturing the shoreline timber and mountain ridges encircling Donner Lake. 

 

3.) "Witches' Cauldron, Sonoma County, Cal." outdoor albumen stereoview. California: Thomas Houseworth & Co., n.d. Photographer's imprint and series identification printed to mount recto.

Exceptional view of sulfurous steam plumes rising through the rugged canyon gorge, with a large party of early tourists in formal dress gathered along the thermal terrace. 

 

4.)  "View on the Yuba River, near Crystal Lake"  outdoor albumen stereoview. California: Lawrence A. Houseworth, 1866. Photographer's copyright and series identification printed to mount recto. Photographer's imprint printed to mount verso. Green three-cent stamp to mount verso. 

 

Scenic river canyon study documenting granite boulders, river channels, and pine-clad hills along the historic Northern Mines river drainage. Lawrence & Houseworth copyright line in right margin.

 

Lawrence & Houseworth’s expansive visual catalog extended far beyond urban San Francisco, dispatching skilled field operators into the High Sierra and coastal thermal ranges. Capturing sites of both natural splendor (Lake Tahoe, Donner Lake) and geological novelty (the Sonoma Geysers), these views defined the rugged mystique of early Northern California for a fascinated world audience.

 

[Stereoview, Stereocard, California, Lake Tahoe, Eagle Falls, Donner Lake, Yuba River, Crystal Lake, Sonoma County, Geysers, Witches Cauldron, Sierra Nevada, Lawrence & Houseworth, Thomas Houseworth, Civil War Tax Stamp, Revenue Stamp, Western Americana, 19th Century Photography]

Very good condition. The prints display rich tones, excellent clarity, and strong contrast, showing just minor light edge dusting and handling wear consistent with age. Mounts remain flat, rigid, and well preserved. 

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Jim Crain Collection.