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AED[CALIFORNIANA] (2) Animal Studies CDVs
![[CALIFORNIANA] (2) Animal Studies CDVs](https://s1.img.bidsquare.com/item/xl/4007/40078716.jpeg?t=1XlJDD)
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About Auction
LiveNov 20, 2026
The lifetime collection of author and photo historian, Jim Crain (1939-2025). The catalog is exclusively devoted to antique photography with an emphasis on the Old West, California, Texas, and Native Americana from 1840-1900. Fleischer's Auctions info@fleischersauctions.com
View Full Catalog (273)
- Lot Description
A delightful pair of early Northern California cartes de visite depicting California fauna and livestock. Views include:
1. View of a champion rooster and hen. Petaluma, California: George Ross, ca. 1870s. Studio imprint to mount recto.
A prized breeding pair from Petaluma — at the time Sonoma County's burgeoning "Egg Capital of the World" — showcasing fine livestock photography produced by an early local gallery.
George Ross operated an early portrait gallery in Petaluma, producing scarce studio portraits and agricultural studies for local Sonoma County ranchers and townsfolk.
2. The Horned Toad of California. Oval studio study. San Francisco: Thomas Houseworth, ca. 1870s. Title and photographer's imprint to lower mount recto. Houseworth's gilt imprint to verso.
A sharp, sculptural profile of Phrynosoma blainvillii (the California coast horned lizard), marketed as a quintessential natural wonder of the Pacific Coast.
Thomas Houseworth & Co. were among San Francisco's premier photographic publishers, widely recognized for their comprehensive documentation of California landscapes, mining operations, and regional curiosities.
[California Natural History, Horned Toad, Horned Lizard, Reptiles, Fauna, Petaluma California, Sonoma County, Chickens, Poultry, Agriculture, Egg Capital of the World, San Francisco History] [Photography, Early Photography, Historic Photography, Carte-de-Visite, CDV, Albumen Photographs, Thomas Houseworth, George Ross, California Photographers]
Condition
Very good condition overall. Both albumen prints exhibit even tones, sharp definition, and rich textural detail. Mounts remain flat and solid, with minor corner rounding, faint edge rubbing, and a few small, scattered spots of peripheral foxing consistent with age.
- Provenance
Jim Crain Collection.
- Shipping Info
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All packages valued at over $250 are shipped with a signature required upon delivery. All packages handled and shipped in-house by Fleischer's Auctions are not insured unless insurance is requested. Successful bidders who would like their packages insured are responsible for notifying us that this is the case and are responsible for paying the cost of insurance.
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