Seattle Chamber of Commerce

Seattle Illustrated [Cover title:] Seattle the Queen City

Chicago: Baldwin, Calcutt & Blakely Publishing Co., 1890. Frank La Roche photography. First Edition. Stiff printed wrappers. 4to. Pp. 76 followed by pp. 8 of Northern Pacific RR advertising. Frontis. duotone view of Lake Washington with tissue guard. Illustrated with numerous drawings, maps, and halftone reproductions of photos and paintings. Stiff alligator-texture embossed paper boards with gilt stamped titles and decoration, side stapled, edges stained red. Front hinge detached and back hinge starting, spine chipped, cover soiled with corners bumped and edges rubbed, blank preliminary inscribed and dated "1, 2, 91" with an erasure in the upper corner. Leaves are otherwise bright and unmarked. Good+. Item #8954

Published the year following the Great Seattle Fire. The first page of this ambitious promotion commemorates the recent incorporation of the Chamber of Commerce (March 3, 1890) stating its mission and listing its officers with portrait photos. In sum, the lauded "Seattle Spirit" is manifested in this lavish promotional, mere months following the disaster that leveled the city.

It begins with a survey of state resources, then Seattle history with its commercial and cultural infrastructure, followed by proud and optimistic descriptions of member businesses and commercial developments provided by their owners. With fine illustrations including architect's renderings of new commercial and residential buildings. Scarce, at best.

A scarce promotional recorded by OCLC as held by 10 libraries, four of them in Washington State. Now housed in a clear archival pouch with acid free backing.

Price: $225.00