Octavo (ca. 23 x 15.5 cm or 9 x 6 in). 79 tan paper leaves (52 blank). 36 mounted gelatin silver photographs with one ca. 20 x 14.5 cm (7 ¾ x 5 ½ in), nineteen ca. 16.5 x 11.5 cm (6 ½ x 4 ½ in), and thirteen from ca. 13 x 8 cm (5 ¼ x 3 in) to 10.5 x 6 cm (4 x 2 ¼ in). One gelatin silver photograph loosely inserted ca. 17.5 x 12 cm (6 ¾ x 4 ¾ in). Twenty-six images with period ink captions on mounts (some captions relate to up to three photos), eighteen captioned and/or numbered in negative, two with printed captions on the image. Period black cloth album with blind-stamped borders on front cover, gilt-tooled borders and generic title “Snap-shots” on spine. One mount with minor tear not affecting photo, but overall a very good album with interesting strong photos.

A rare and interesting collection of gelatin silver photographs of the Patagonia and the Strait of Magellan regions in Chile and Argentina during the 1920s. The photographs in the album show the towns of Punta Arenas in Chile and Rio Gallegos and Ushuaia in Argentina. Views of Punta Arenas include the “Hotel Argentino” and Ferdinand Magellan Monument in Muñoz Gamero Square. There are also views of the Strait of Magellan and the Chilean Magallanes Region, including Monte Sarmiento, “Canal Santa Maria,” Cockburn Channel, “Punta San Payo,” glaciers at the Beagle Channel, Lago del Toro, and Mount Balmaceda. There are five portraits of the Selk’nam (Ona) people, featuring their traditional fur clothing and hunting bows; a family group in one of the photos is pictured in front of their tent. There are also several images of livestock farming, including a ranch at Lago del Toro, “dipping sheep to prevent disease,” and ranchers trying to brand cows.

Additionally, the last photo in the album – dated 1937 – portrays “J.L.W,” likely John Linzee Weld, the treasurer of “Suncook Mills” – a textile company from New Hampshire. Weld, who was possibly the album’s compiler, is shown in front of a Suncook Mills office. The loosely inserted photo is likely of his wedding. In 1940, Suncook Mills was indicted on charges of conspiracy to violate antitrust laws, along with several other companies, for alleged price-fixing in the aircraft fabric industry.

Overall, an interesting collection of historical photographs from the 1920s of Patagonia and the Straits of Magellan.