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Lot 139
SPECTACULAR ALBUM OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION AT TAFT, MONTANA. ELTON, A.J., H. ENGLISH, and others, photographers. Photographic album of Fred E. Albrecht containing 112 gelatin silver print photographs of Taft, Montana and other towns along the railroad,
27 – 28 August 2021, 15:00 PDT
Los AngelesSold for US$3,570 inc. premium
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SPECTACULAR ALBUM OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION AT TAFT, MONTANA.
ELTON, A.J., H. ENGLISH, and others, photographers. Photographic album of Fred E. Albrecht containing 112 gelatin silver print photographs of Taft, Montana and other towns along the railroad, various sizes (8 x 10 inches to 3 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches), all laid down to album leaves and identified in white ink in a meticulous hand, 1908-1909, with 50 additional gelatin silver print personal photographs of Albrecht, c.1900, bound in full limp morocco album lettered "Photographs / F.E. Albrecht" to upper cover, wear at joints and shelfwear, some oxidation to a few photos but generally very good.
This album was kept by a young man who was likely an employee of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad which built the line and tunnels pictured in these images. The album opens with images of Taft, Montana, at the time a thriving railroad town known for drinking, gambling, a high murder rate, and a ratio of 5 prostitutes per man. Today it is a ghost town. Albrecht's album shows images of the town before and after a devastating fire; the interior of a saloon where both a mule and a dog in a hat are among the customers; a rotary snow plow, both stationary and in action; the company office and his fellow employees; the St. Paul tunnel under construction; local residences; and other cities along the line, such as Grand Forks, ID, Saltese, MT, and the Bitter Root Mountains. Should be seen.
This album was kept by a young man who was likely an employee of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad which built the line and tunnels pictured in these images. The album opens with images of Taft, Montana, at the time a thriving railroad town known for drinking, gambling, a high murder rate, and a ratio of 5 prostitutes per man. Today it is a ghost town. Albrecht's album shows images of the town before and after a devastating fire; the interior of a saloon where both a mule and a dog in a hat are among the customers; a rotary snow plow, both stationary and in action; the company office and his fellow employees; the St. Paul tunnel under construction; local residences; and other cities along the line, such as Grand Forks, ID, Saltese, MT, and the Bitter Root Mountains. Should be seen.





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