Souvenir of St. Louis

New York: Wittemann Bros. 1885.

Hardcover. Very good. 3.25" x 5", oblong, embossed red paper boards stamped in gilt. Accordion-folded souvenir view book, with 16 photolithographed views by Louis Glaser on 20 panels, including a four-panel panoramic view titled "View West from Court House" and a two panel view titled "The Bridge, seen from the South." Archival tape reinforcements on the back to several folds (joints between panels), previous owner's name on rear pastedown, else very good. Includes views of the Chamber of Commerce, Courthouse, Southern Hotel, Exposition Building, Union Depot, Tower Grove Park, Lafayette Park, and others. According to historian Ron Tyler, Louis Glaser (who produced more than 100 view books) used a "multi-stone lithographic process to achieve a monochromatic effect that seems to have been rare if not unknown among American lithographers. Using five or more stones, they laid down a series of separate shades ranging from white to light sepia-grey to the darkest sepia-grey or black. The finished lithograph has a varnished look that creates greater illusion of depth than a simple lithograph or toned lithograph."

Item #24531

Price: $90.00