A Collection of Contemporary Real Photo Post Cards and Color Post Cards of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and its Aftermath

A collection of over 225 Post Cards documenting the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, consisting of approximately 140 gelatin silver Real Photo Post Cards made by amateur photographers and commercial studios, 85 color Post Cards (including several by Charles Weidner), and six gelatin silver prints (postcard size) taken by an unknown amateur photographer. The collection contains both unused and used (stamped & postmarked) postcards, most dating from 1906-07, including some dating up to about 1910. Several of the earliest amateur prints have autograph notes or identifying captions written in ink next to the image and/or on the back, and several commercial prints have captions printed at a margin or inside the image. Included are just a few duplicate postcards, very good overall. The collection features images of the city burning and of the ruins in the aftermath of the disaster at various neighborhoods throughout San Francisco, including Chinatown, and surrounding areas like Stanford University. The earthquake occurred on April 18, 1906, and fires broke out over the next several days. Destroying the city and taking many lives, it remains one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the United States. There are several images of the skeletal City Hall, of Mission Street and Market Street, and other streets and buildings; together with images of refugees, breadlines, etc., including "Mayor Schmitz . making rounds in automobile". Included among the color postcards are about 12 of Charles Weidner's earthquake damage cards. Weidner was one of San Francisco's best known postcard photographers and publishers. In addition to one black and white print (signed in the image "Pillsbury Picture Co."), the collection likely includes unsigned postcards by Arthur C. Pillsbury, who made some of the first photo postcards showing the devastation of the earthquake and fires. A unique visual record, featuring numerous early and historically important images.…