Geographical Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian
1st Lieut. Geo. M. Wheeler, Corps of Engineers Commanding
Timothy H. O'Sullivan, Photographer
Complete Boxed Set of 50 Images
This complete boxed set, in the original box, consisting of 50 images, 42 by T.H. O'Sullivan and 8 by Wm. Bell. The set contains views from the Expeditions of 1871, 1872, 1873, & 1874. The images from 1872 were made by Bell, while the rest were taken by O'Sullivan. The set contains 18 images of, or relating to, Native Americans. A number of the images show O'Sullivan's or Bell's camera equipment. This rare, early set of American Western Exploration Stereographs is an important milestone in the presentation of images of the West and in the history of exploration photography. It is one of the earliest and most important of the boxed sets in American Stereographic history.
All of the 50 views and their titles are depicted below. The verso of view No. 1 is shown and is representative of all of the others.
No. 1. The start from Camp Mojave, Arizona, September 15th, 1871. Boat
Expedition under Lieutenant Wheeler, the first and only one to ascend the
Colorado through the Grand Canon to mouth of Diamond Creek. Distance travelled,
260 miles in 31 days,
the boats often having to be portaged around rapids and drawn over rocks.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 2. View across Black Canon. The grand walls in perspective.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 3. View down Black Canon, from Mirror Bar. The walls repeated by reflection.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 4. Grotto Spring, Grand Canon, Colorado River. The water flows from the
rocks above, and the umbrella-shaped rock about it is tufa, that has been formed
by deposition from the mineral constituents of the water. The light spot seen
through and beyond is the sand-beach of the river.
Looking through this Grotto is seen in the distance the walls of the Grand
Canon, 3,500 feet in height on either side.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 5. Types of Mojave Indians. This tribe inhabits the region of the lower
Colorado, or western Arizona.
Physically, they are the finest specimens in all the West, many of the males
attaining to the height of 6 feet.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 6. View of Grand Canon walls, near mouth of Diamond River.
From water line to first shelf 1,500 feet; from shelf to top of table 3,500
feet. Distance from point of view to top of walls 3 miles.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 7. Mountain transportation. Pack mule, Pack and Packers.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 8. The Canon of Kanab Creek, near its junction with the Grand Canon of the
Colorado.
In the foreground is a dripping spring affording a shower bath. Temperature, 69
degrees Fahr.
Wm. Bell, Photographer.
No. 9. "The Bath," a dripping spring in Kanab Canon. Temperature, 69 degrees
Fahr.
Wm. Bell, Photographer.
An enlargement of No. 9 above showing a naked member of the expedition and in
the left background one of O'Sullivan's cameras on tripod.
No. 10. The mouth of Kanab Creek. The beds of the Colorado River and its
tributary here lie in gorges cut by the running water to the depth of about
3,500 feet below the general surface of the country. The highest point seen in
the picture is 2,500 feet above the water, and the walls are here too steep to
be scaled.
Wm. Bell, Photographer.
No. 11. Mouth of the Paria, Colorado River, walls 2,100 feet in height.
Wm. Bell, Photographer.
No. 12. View in the Grand Canon of the Colorado River.
Wm. Bell, Photographer.
No. 13. Marble Canon, one of the gorges of the Colorado here, 1,200 feet deep.
The steep cliff is gray limestone and the slope below a brilliant red sandstone.
Wm. Bell, Photographer.
No. 14. The northern wall of the Grand Canon of the Colorado, near the foot of
To-ro-weap valley.
The rounded rocks of the foreground are sand-stone.
Wm. Bell, Photographer.
No. 15. The "Vermillion Cliff," a typical plateau edge, as seen from Jacobs
Pool, Arizona. From its top a plateau stretches to the right, and from its base
another to the left. Their difference of level is 1,500 feet, and the step is
too steep for scaling.
Wm. Bell, Photographer.
No. 16. Indian Pueblo of Zuni, New Mexico; view from the interior. The "Pueblo"
or town, encloses a quadrangular area within which are the ruins of a church
built under the direction of the Jesuit missionaries. The houses are built one
above the other to the height of five or six stories. The entrances are mostly
from the top, the ascent and descent being made by ladders.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 17. Zuni Indian Girl, with water olla.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 18. Gardens surrounding the Indian Pueblo of Zuni, in which are raised a
variety of vegetables, such as pepper, onions, garlic, &c.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 19. Group of Zuni Indian "Braves," at their Pueblo, N.M.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
Enlargement of No. 19 above, showing O'Sullivan's large format wet-plate camera
at right.
No. 20. War Chief of the Zuni Indians.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 21. Ruins in Canon de Chelle, N.M., in a cavity in the wall, 60 feet above
present bed of Canon. Height of walls about 700 feet. The present race of
Indians know nothing of the age of these buildings or who occupied them.
(For details, see forthcoming report of Lieutenant Wheeler, on Ancient Ruins.)
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 22. Circle Wall, Canon de Chelle. Here the Canon bends from an easterly
direction nearly due north,
the walls maintaining a perpendicular height of about 1,200 feet.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 23. Explorers Column, Canon de Chelle, Arizona. This shaft is the work of
nature, and is about 900 feet in height; base about 70 by 110 feet. It stands
near the center of the Canon, and it is almost impossible to believe that it is
not the work of human hands.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 24. Central portion of Canon de Chelle, New Mexico. This Canon is one of the
most remarkable in the west, and is noted for its beauty. The walls are of Red
Sand-stone, nearly perpendicular, and at this point are 1,200 feet in height.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 25. Camp Beauty, Canon de Chelle; walls 1,200 feet high, width of Canon at
this point about one fourth of a mile.
This view shows the perpendicular effect wrought by the action of floods. The
Artist of the Expedition, Mr. Wyant, of New York, made a study of this scene
with the intention to paint it as a characteristic Canon view.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 26. Aboriginal life among the Navajo Indians, Canon de Chelle, New Mexico.
Squaw weaving blankets. The native loom. The blankets made are of the best
quality, and impervious to water.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
Enlargement of No. 26 above showing details of blanket and loom.
No. 27. Navajo Indian Squaw, and Child, at their home in Canon de Chelle.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 28. Navajo Boys and Squaw, in front of the quarters at old Fort Defiance,
N.M., now unoccupied by troops.
The agency for the Navajos is located here.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 29. Navajo Brave and his Mother. The Navajos were formerly a warlike tribe
until subdued by U.S. Troops, in 1859-60.
Many of them now have fine flocks, and herds of horses, sheep and goats.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 30. Apache Lake, Summit of Sierra Blanca Mountains, about 35 miles east from
Camp Apache, Arizona, and 10,500 feet above sea level.
This lake is similar to many found in the western mountains.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 31. Coyotero Apache Scouts, at Apache Lake, Sierra Blanca Mountains,
Arizona.
Two members of the Expedition in the back-ground.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
Enlargement of No. 31 above.
No. 32. Cooley's Ranch, 10 miles east of Camp Apache, Arizona. A characteristic
mountain "Park" and Apache Indian Farm.
Here the Apaches grow corn, wheat and a few vegetables.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 33. Apache Indians, as they appear ready for the war-path.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 34. Roman Catholic Church, Plaza of Guadaloupe, Guadaloupe Co., Colorado.
Built not many years since of adobes.
Dimensions, length 120 feet; width 60 feet; height 25 feet. Grave yard in the
foreground surrounded by an adobe wall about 6 feet in height.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 35. Beaver Lake, Conejos Canon, Colorado, 9,000 feet above sea-level, and 30
miles from mouth of Canon.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 36. Canon, Valley of the Conejos River, looking south from vicinity of "Lost
Lakes."
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 37. Lost Lakes, head of Conejos Canon, Colorado, in the Sierra San Juan
range, near divide between Conejos and south fork of Alamosa Rivers, surrounded
by a forest of Douglass spruce, and approximately 11,000 feet above sea-level.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 38. One of the group of Pagosa Hot Springs, showing incrustation on the
surface. Much prized by the Indians and miners on account of supposed healing
qualities. Principal mineral element, Sulphate of Soda.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 39. Pah-ge, a Ute Squaw, of the Kah-poh-teh band, Northern New Mexico.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 40. Ute Braves, of the Kah-poh-teh band, Northern New Mexico, in "full
dress."
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 41. Jicarilla Apache Brave and Squaw, lately wedded, Abiquiu Agency, New
Mexico.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 42. Shee-zah-nan-tan, Jicarilla Apache Brave in characteristic Costume,
Northern New Mexico.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 43. Characteristic ruin, of the Pueblo San Juan, New Mexico, on the north
bank of the San Juan River, about 15 miles west of the mouth of Canon Largo. The
present race of Indians know nothing of when or by whom these buildings were
constructed.
The ruin is about 350 feet square, and built of natural stone, joined together
by a mud cement.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
Enlargement of No. 43 above, showing O'Sullivan with his large format wet-plate
camera.
No. 44. Lagunas Caballo, or Horse Lakes, 14 miles N.W. from Tierra Amarilla, New
Mexico.
The water of the lakes is strongly mineral and not fit for men or animals to
drink.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 45. Alpine Lake, in the Cerro Blanco Mountains, Colorado. One of a group of
ten lakes at the main head of Ute Creek, 11,000 feet above sea-level. Cerro
Blanco Peak rises 14,2690 feet above the sea, lying to the westward.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 46. Baldy Peak, Cerro Blanco Mountains, Colorado, 14,234 feet above
sea-level.
Limit in altitude of vegetation about 11,000 feet.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 47. Alpine lakes, and mountain scenery, in the Cerro Blanco Mountains,
Colorado, 13,000 feet above sea-level.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 48. Shoshone Falls, Snake River, Idaho, Main Fall, 210 feet from upper to
lower level, width of fall, 800 feet from upper to lower level;
Height of Canon wall at the falls, 1,000 feet.
A number of minor falls, Islands, and boulder rocks above the main fall add
beauty to the lonely majesty of this scene.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 49. Shoshone Falls, Snake River, Idaho, looking through the timber, and
showing the main fall, and upper or "Lace Falls."
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
No. 50. Shoshone Falls, Snake River, Idaho. Gorge and natural bridge, in the
fore-ground.
T.H. O'Sullivan, Photographer.
The original box containing the 50 Stereoviews.
It is in reasonably good shape for its age with only the left side flap split at
sides but attached at bottom of box.
General view of the Stereoviews.
The set is available for $7750.
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