A collection of nine (9) CDVs depicting everyday life in San Antonio, Texas, ca. 1866-1884. Four feature period pencil inscriptions identifying the shot. Eight of them feature the backmark of Henry Doerr (1822-1885), a prolific photographer based in the Alamo City. Doerr, originally born in Prussia, arrived in San Antonio around 1865 and immediately began taking photographs, first with two different partners within a year of each other and then by himself around 1867. He continued to work alone and with others over the next 20 years until his passing, capturing both studio portraits and outdoor scenes, like these nine cartes. 

The views in this lot include: 

1. Masonic building. A shot centered on a three-story building with a storefront reading “FIELD EACAR & Co.” next to a photographer’s gallery. Based on the period inscription mentioning a masonic building and the fact that Doerr had a studio “near the masonic hall,” per one of his backmarks, this gallery was most likely his. 

2. San Antonio River view 1. A peaceful scene along the San Antonio River, showing a slightly sagging plank bridge providing access to the two dwellings on the riverbanks. 

3. San Antonio River view 2. Slightly down the river from the previous view, that same bridge can be seen underneath a tall tree that hangs over the body of water. 

4. Alamo Plaza. Two covered wagons are stationary in the Alamo Plaza, with a church waving an American flag. According to UT San Antonio, who owns a copy of this image, the buildings photographed were used as an Army supply depot throughout the mid-19th century. 

5. [illeg.] at Arsenal. Two women and a child sit on the front porch of a large residential estate. Based on the inscription, this house was most likely near the U.S. San Antonio Arsenal, which was used until 1949. 

6. San Antonio River view 3. Large foliage skim the top of the river, which is highly reflective in this image. There is also a wooden staircase leading to a small dock, which was probably perfect for civilian use and travel. 

7. Head qrs / military offices / and C.S. Storehouses. A large covered wagon being pulled by six horses sits in front of a former Confederate headquarters, which turned into the Vance Hotel in 1872, as hinted by the next image. 

8. Hotel. Another view of the previous building from a different angle. The inscription on this mount verso helps identify the building as what would become the Vance Hotel. UT San Antonio owns a copy of this image and claims that it was most likely taken after the building served as a Confederate headquarters but before it opened as a hotel, somewhere between 1865 and 1872. 

9. View of Commerce / St. looking westward / from Kampmann building. A shot down Commerce Street, an aptly named road for one of the most bustling spots of the city. It is taken from the Kampmann Building, which was a bank at the northeast corner of the Main Plaza that opened in 1884. This is the only CDV in this group that does not feature a Doerr backmark. 

[San Antonio Texas, Texas History, The Alamo, Alamo Plaza, Commerce Street, US Arsenal, Military Outposts, Covered Wagons, San Antonio River, 19th Century Texas, American West, Texas Architecture] [Photography, Early Photography, Historic Photography, Carte-de-Visite, CDV, Albumen Photographs, Henry Doerr, Texas Photographers, Urban Views]

Very good condition overall, displaying strong tones and good clarity throughout the scenes. The card mounts are uniformly trimmed with angled cut corners for period album insertion, remaining flat and sturdy with minor edge rubbing and light age toning. Versos are bold and clean with crisp letterpress backmarks and legible contemporary pencil annotations.