Sutro Heights: Parapet
The images on this page show the parapet at Sutro Heights. The stone parapet remains in 2020, though the observatory building and the statues are long gone.
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This image is © 1902 by Goeggel & Weidner ("Parapet at Sutro Heights", Class H XXc #18446 6/02/1902).
- Goeggel & Weidner 2, with 'Copyright', AutoChrom bottom left, postmarked 10/02/1902.
- Goeggel & Weidner 2, with 'Copyright', AutoChrom middle left, postmarked 12/14/1903.
- Goeggel & Weidner 2; "Goeggel & Weidner, Publishers" credit front left (no 'Copyright'), AutoChrom logo, undivided back; ca. 1904-1905.
- Weidner 2; "Charles Weidner, Photographer" (not "Publisher") credit front left, AutoChrom logo, undivided back, bottom caption shifted left and "California" added top right; postmarked SF 1/15/1906.
Weidner Catalog shows eight Weidner 2 variants:
- [above left] Copyright Goeggel & Weidner, AutoChrom logo bottom left, "San Francisco" top right, undivided back.
- [above next] Copyright Goeggel & Weidner, AutoChrom logo middle left, "San Francisco" top right, undivided back.
- [above next] Goeggel & Weidner, AutoChrom logo middle left, "San Francisco" top right, undivided back.
- [above right] Weidner credit, AutoChrom logo middle left, "California" added top right, undivided back.
- Weidner credit, AutoChrom logo middle left, "San Francsico" bottom left, undivided back.
- Weidner credit, no AutoChrom logo, "California" added top right, undivided back.
- Weidner credit on back, "No. 2" bottom left, divided back.
- Weidner credit on back, unnumbered, divided back.
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- Goeggel & Weidner 27, postmarked SF 11/14/1902, is an embossed b+w version of the same image. Weidner Embossed Postcards shows more Goeggel & Weidner embossed cards.
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In the first decade of the 20th century, the same image often appeared on postcards from different publishers, usually without credit. Each of these cards uses the Weidner 2 image with no Weidner credit.
- Mitchell 248, postmarked SF 9/07/1904.
- Penny Auditorium, same image in b+w, credit "Penny Auditorium, 769 Market" front left; postmarked SF 7/15/1905.
- Charlton, b+w; another example postmarked SF 7/26/1905. Penny Auditorium and E.P. Charlton were local variety stores, so it's possible that these b+w variants were prepared for the stores by Weidner.
- Behrendt 38; credit "Richard Behrendt, Publisher" front left, divided back; postmarked Napa 5/06/1908.
Same image, not shown: Selige 3182 (b+w); another example is postmarked 6/17/1906. Same image, not in my collection: Art Litho 246 (color).
Charles Weidner was both a postcard publisher and a photographer, but most postcard publishers were not photographers (Behrendt: novelty store owner / importer; Britton & Rey: lithographers; Mitchell: businessman). Richard Behrendt published many cards with Weidner images (e.g., Golden Gate Park: Midwinter, City Hall, and Hotels: Palace Hotel), presumably under license from Weidner. Online sources suggest publishers played fast and loose with images during the decade, but I know of no concrete evidence for that, and most business records for postcard publishers are long gone. Later in the decade, Weidner certainly licensed images to other publishers, sometimes requiring a Weidner photo credit on the card. For example, Newman V187, Newman V195, Newman V198, Newman V201, and Newman V269 all credit "Photo only Copyrighted 1909 by Chas. Weidner" on the front.
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Similar views of the Sutro Heights parapet:
- souvenir_4626 [b+w], with incorrect post-quake caption (the parapet was not destroyed by earthquake/fire).
- Weidner 477.
- Newman V131 shows the same image.
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Cards showing different parapet images:
- Britton & Rey 523. The cupola behind the tree at left is atop Billington's Sutro Heights Gallery.
- Mitchell 246, postmarked 10/21/1907. Charlton 246 uses the same layout, stock number, and image.
- Behrendt 8277.
- Scheff 110.
Steve's SF postcard pages:
