[Dominican Republic]. [Photography]

[Large Collection of Photographs of the Dominican Republic During the 1920s & 1930s, Probably Relating to an American Sugar Plant There]

[Various locations in the Dominican Republic: 1920s-1930s]. Eighty-three smaller-format photographs, each around 5 x 7 inches or smaller; seventy-two larger-format photographs, each about 8 x 10 inches. Most images with manuscript or printed captions either in the image or on verso, often with photographer's studio stamp. Minor to moderate wear, occasional minor chipping to margins, varying degrees of curling, twelve images adhered to album leaves. Very good. Item #5942

A voluminous collection of over 150 photographs picturing the people, cities, landscapes, and commercial activity in the Dominican Republic in the early-20th century. The images capture indigenous Dominican peoples, street views, waterfront views, road construction, sugar and other plantations, various buildings, landscapes, and so forth. The photos were produced by a few photographers active in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean at the time, including the Brown Brothers, "Fotografia Manon, Santo Domingo" (whose embossed blindstamp can be seen in the image area of some image), and Palau of Santo Domingo City. Most of the images exhibit some kind of manuscript or typed captions either in the negative or on the verso, providing critical identification information for the content and/or settings in the pictures. The images identify street scenes on "Avenida Bolivar," "San Pedro de Macoris," and in various other cities, as well as shots of "Teatro Independencia," "Palacio Municipal de Moca," "Hipodromo de Santo Domingo," a "Factoria" in La Romana, "Palacio Consistorial" in the capital city of Santo Domingo, "Cafe Eden" in Santiago de los Caballeros, "The Citadel at Santo Domingo," "An American sugar plantation near San Pedro de Macoris," "Laboratorio de Fitopatologia," several views of old ruins, and other commercial, scientific, educational, or religious structures.

Important Dominican landmarks pictured here include the "God Tree" ("where legend says Columbus tied his vessel upon his first visit to the island in 1492), the wishing stone of Queen Anacaona (who was executed by Bartolome de las Casas), the "Puerta de San Diego" and the lighthouse at Santo Domingo City, the Cathedral of Santo Domingo (begun in 1504 and completed in 1550), and various sites relating to Columbus's arrival and time on the island. Other shots capture inventories in various warehouses or in agricultural fields of sugar cane, tobacco, onions, or cotton, an interior shot of a match factory in Puerto Plata, a Ford dealership in Monte Cristi, large stores of tobacco in La Vega, laborers constructing a railroad track near Puerto Plata, the old fort and other structures at Santo Domingo, various shots of the Dominican Republic's federal army and military band, locals picking coconuts and wild oranges along the Macoris River, shots of various street vendors, several shots of the "School children of Santo Domino," and more. Most of the commercial scenes feature numerous native Dominicans at work, and the street scenes often picture locals, as well.

Though we have handled various groups of photographs featuring Cuba, Jamaica, Bermuda, and other Caribbean locations, this is the first collection picturing the Dominican Republic that we have offered, and the largest we have encountered in the trade. The images provide an excellent opportunity for further study of the people, places, businesses, churches, and more in the Dominican Republic during the early part of the last century.

Price: $6,500.00