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Up for sale is an incredibly rare, museum-quality archive of 60+ original vintage black-and-white snapshots documenting an extensive, narrative-driven automotive road trip through California and Baja California, Mexico, in September 1939.The absolute pinnacle of vernacular photography, this collection is heavily annotated on the reverse sides with brilliant first-person commentary detailing locations, prices, historical context, and a running, humorous romantic narrative.HISTORICAL AND VISUAL HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
- AVIATION: Exceptional exterior shot of the \"San Francisco Bay Airdrome Ltd.\" and the Los Angeles Municipal Airport sign with a vintage coupe.
- HOLLYWOOD & CELEBRITY: Shots tracking Norma Shearer\'s Palisades estate and active MGM movie sets (explicitly noting the 1939 production \"If I Were King\" and \"Dick Tracy\" serial sets).
- EXPOSITIONS: Documentation of the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island (\"World\'s Fair Frisco\").
- CALIFORNIA LANDMARKS: Extensive travels through Yosemite (7,000ft altitude notes), Sequoia National Park (historic redwoods & Hanging Rock), San Francisco City Hall, Alcatraz Island, the Santa Barbara Mission, and the iconic Watts Towers in LA.
- BAJA MEXICO: Multi-photo chronicle of crossing the San Ysidro border customs into Tijuana for the September 16th Mexican Independence Day Parade and visiting the exclusive Agua Caliente resort.CONDITION: Excellent pre-war vintage condition. Images are sharp, clear, and possess beautiful contrast typical of silver gelatin snapshots of the era. The handwriting on the reverse is remarkably crisp, dark, and highly legible.Please see the listing photos for a close look at the exact images and reverse-side commentary included. Perfect for collectors of ephemera, West Coast history, or unique Americana!
