Hood's Photos of The World an Unrivalled Collection...First and Second Series Complete in Two Albums
(C.I. Hood & Co.)
Lowell Massachusetts: C.I. Hood Co., F Two albums of 19th century of world travel photograph reproductions tipped into specific albums from this Massachusetts Sarsaparilla manufacturer, containing a total of 200 different images + an additional photograph (in Volume II) of the "Hood's Sarsaparilla Laboratory, Lowell, Mass." showing the busy factory with train deliveries and a vast enterprise at work; the collector could order sets of 10 photographic reproductions of "...Famous Scenes, American and Foreign..." and then would paste them into these albums; each image has the printed number and title; Volume I images follow consecutively along with their numbered sequence, 1-100; Volume II with images 101-200 were not tipped-in sequentially, the images are mounted in no particular order and are nevertheless complete according to the list at front of the album; At back of both albums are a "Descriptive Index" which gives detailed information, a paragrraph or so, of each image, location & historical interest; no copyright date but circa 1896 from internal evidence; previous ownership signature on front endpaper of one album; Our research indicates this is the complete run of images produced by Hood's in this promotional endeavor; an interesting group of imagery from the late nineteenth century and a clever marketing strategy by which Hood's 'connected' with their clients via the collecting impulse, which surely kept the company in front of the viewer through mailings of additional photographs, advertisements, and by the physical article of the albums being there to look at over and over again, giving repetition and recognition of their brand name; it is also noteworthy as to what the company considered interesting to their clients to include in the album; this in itself indicates what the "viewing public" may have been interested in at the time: exploration, romantic travel and the "World Tour" of the middle classes; Mexico has its own set, as does The West Indies including the Bahamas and Cuba; The United States is represented by about 40 images, including some from Alaska, with Indians, Totem Poles, the gold fields and many of the historic sites across America; The European countries: Great Britain, France, Germany-Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Norway, Russia, Spain, Portugal, Holland and more exotic, yet accessible (by the end of the 19th century) Middle Eastern destinations: Turkey, Greece, Egypt and also including a set of 10 images of India; generally speaking, these are well-taken tour album depictions and some are of places which no longer exist or which have changed beyond recognition; albums are oblong format approx. 6 1/2" x 8 1/2"; one bound in green cloth, the other in grey; gilt cover titles; some wear to bindings, occasional rubbing to images, closed tears to paper mount backings; inner hinge paper separating, albums too heavy for the bindings; overall, good condition. Good H (Item ID: 17765)
$350.00
