1902 Yosemite Valley / Stunning Stereoscope Photography 24 PHOTOS / California / Sierra Nevada/1st ed VERY RARE Start Price USD 9.99 Current Price USD 405.00 Time Left - Bid Count 25 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Saturday, August 30, 2008 End Time Tuesday, September 09, 2008 Location Grand Rapids, Michigan See more about '1902 Yosemite Valley / Stunning Stereoscope Photography' Description 1902 Yosemite Valley / Stunning Stereoscope Photography 24 PHOTOS / California / Sierra Nevada / 1st ed VERY RARE The title of this extremely scarce work reads, “Yosemite Valley through the Stereoscope. Personally conducted by Charles Quincy Turner, formerly Editor of Outing. Underwood & Underwood. New York. London. Ottawa, Kansa. Toronto, Canada.” The verso of the title page adds this information: “Copyright, 1902 by Underwood & Underwood. New York and London. (Entered at Stationer’s Hall). Sterographs copyrighted in the United States and foreign countries….” This work and the accompanying photographs are extremely rare; there are only two copies (both of which are second editions) listed on Internet sources, and just a handful in libraries throughout California (and one in the British Library). Although this was an extremely popular work at the time of publication, very few copies have survived. The first edition (which this set is) was published 1902; a second edition came out in 1908. The work, housed in a sturdy case that is designed to look like a book (see scans below), consists of a softcover booklet on the history and description of Yosemite Valley and 24 stunning photos of the most famous views of Yosemite, often including turn-of-the-century tourists. The accompanying map is missing. Charles Turner, author of other articles regarding the beauties of California, writes not only the history and geographical description of the incomparable Yosemite Valley, but also gives a first-edition account of his own tour through the valley. Turner describes each photo in turn, his explanations running from 1-4 pages in length in the commentary. Here, for example, is his commentary on stereograph no. 10, a view of the valley, Half Dome, Nevada Falls, Cap of Liberty, and the Sierras, from Eagle Peak: At last we stand on the summit of Eagle Peak, one of the Three Brothers, which, you remember, John Muir saw “tremble like a jelly.” It is hard to realize, standing on its apparently adamantine rocky top, seven thousand seven hundred and fifty feet above the sea, that there has within a present lifetime been a quiver in its rigid frame. The scene before us is so entirely different from those we have had in the valley, that it comes upon us with a startling freshness. Away, away down prone at our feet, as if one could kick a stone down into it, lies a portion of the main valley, winding on our left round the spreading base of Half Dome, which stretches entirely across the middle distance. Far away, too, over Half Dome’s western extremity we catch sight of a thin silver band which we recognize at once as the Nevada Falls, the upper of the two falls which bring in the Merced River out of the mountains at that extreme end of the main valley. We cannot see the lower falls, the Vernal Falls, although they are four hundred feet above the valley floor. In fact, we see only the upper portion of the Nevada Falls. The vast solitudes of the higher Sierras, the Cascade Chain, lie beyond, overtopping the Cap of Liberty itself (seen just to the left of the falls), two thousand feet above the waterfall, as if it were a toy, and spreading, snow-capped and reft and peaked, away and away still higher, and higher, and wilder, and whiter, until it resembles some mighty aggregation of icebergs in a snowy sea, tinged with glorious crimson, and serried and seamed, and defined by the purple shadow. I have waited until the last to call your attention to the steep cliffs on our immediate right. They are so apparently near, and they can be seen in such detail, that it seems as if they were but just across the street. That is the northern and north-eastern part of the ridge leading up to Sentinel Dome and Glacier Point, over two miles across the valley. Notice that zigzag trail almost on the cliff’s edge. We shall soon be on that very trail and look directly north to the Yosemite Falls, which is now to our left and behind us. That trail lead also to the famous Glacier Point, where we shall stand for some time, and look in several directions…. Descending now from our eyrie on this Eagle Peak, we must be off for our next climb; this time on horseback. It will be from new ground, and to reach it we shall have to cross the main valley and traverse the lower part of that trail we see across on our right…. The views on stereograph include the following: From Inspiration Point through Yosemite Valley, California, showing Bridal Veil Falls, El Capitan, Sentinel and Half Dome. El Capitan (3,300 ft. high), most imposing of granit cliffs, east to Half Dome and Cloud’s Rest Ribbon Falls (2,000 foot leap), looking north, from the Valley, near Merced River. El Capitan, a solid granite mountain (3,300 ft. high), from across the beautiful Merced River. The Three Brothers (Eagle Peak in centre), from down the Valley—one of the strange formations of wonderful Yosemite North Dome, Half Dome and Cloud’s Rest, from the north of River, opposite Three Brothers Mirror View of the majestic Cathedral Rocks—looking down the valley Amid Yosemite’s Charms—Sentinel Hotel looking north across Valley to Yosemite Falls Majestic Yosemite Point and wind-sprayed Yosemite Falls (1,600 ft. leap), looking NNE The Valley, Half Dome, Nevada Falls, Cap of Liberty and imposing Sierras (ESE) from Eagle Peak Yosemite Falls form Glacier Point Trail Looking straight up the sheer face of Glacier Point (3,000 ft.) to the Overhanging Rocks Looking straight down from Overhanging Rocks, Glacier Point (3,257 ft.) into the Valley below Nearly a mile straight down and only a step—from Glacier Point (VW) across Valley to Yosemite Falls, Yosemite Overlooking nature’s grandest scenery—from Glacier Point (NE) over Half Dome and Cloud’s Rest From Glacier Point (NE) up Tenaiya Canon, over Mirror Lake, Half Dome and Cloud’s Rest Nevada and Vernal Falls, and Cap of Liberty, from Glacier Point (ESE) to Mount Clark (11,250 ft) Amid the majestic heights and chasms of wonderful Yosemite Valley—from Trail (NNW) to North and Basket Domes On the brink of a fearful chasm—from Glacier Canon (NE) to Half Dome Climbing up the steep Zig-zag Trail at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley Nevada Falls (605 ft. fall) and Cap of Liberty (1,800 ft. high) from Trail, looking east. Mirror Lake, where nature multiples her charms—looking(NE) to Mount Watkins From Cloud’s Rest (NNE) over Lake Tenaiya to the distant Matterhorn (12,176 ft), Sierra Nevada Mountains From Cloud’s Rest (SE) over Little Yosemite Valley to Mount Clark The guide booklet contains not only a history of the park and its preservation, but also instructions on how to view the stereoscopic photographs. It notes, Following the method indicated in the above advice, one can, by the use of the sterographs of the Park and the special map accompanying this booklet, although never having visited the Park, obtain an experience so vivid as to be similar in all essential respects to that gained by a person actually present. This is a bold claim, but the photographs are stunning, sharp, and clear. The use of a stereograph would add depth perception to the image, making it jump out the viewer. The photos are on heavy, grey-colored cards, complete with publishing information and a summary of the view on the front of the card, with a lengthy description of the view on the verso side of the card. They are in pristine condition, with only very slight rubbing wear to the corners of the cards, and a slight bowing of the cards, due to storage. The booklet is also in very good condition, with dark purple covers slightly faded and age-toned, and a small crease in the upper corner of the front cover. All pages are present, though one leaf has come loose from the spine. The box is still in sturdy condition, with cloth covers that show some mottling and soiling. Spine is clean and clear, with gilt lettering still legible. When closed, the box resembles a book cover. “Book” case measures about 7.5” x 4” x 2” and contains 24 stereograph cards with photos and one booklet of 70 pages. 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