[WESTERN AMERICANA]. A group of 10 stereoviews documenting the Darien Expedition. New York: E. & H.T. Anthony, ca 1870-1871.

6 x 3 5/8 in. stereoviews on cardstock mounts (toning, few prints have faded; edge and corner wear to mounts, light soiling, few with vertical crease through center of mount). Rectos with series title "Darien Expedition. Commodore Selfridge, Commanding," publisher's imprint, and title in lower margin. A scarce group of images, either taken by John Moran or Timothy O'Sullivan, ca 1870-1871.

Titles include: 6. Cathedral, Panama. -- 7. Church San Filipi, Panama. -- 10. Main Gate, Cartagena. -- 12. Church of San Juan, Cartagena. -- 18. Chipagana. From the Hills. -- 25. Pinogana, Tuyra River. -- 35. India Rubber Tree. -- 54. View in Tropical Forest. -- 57. View in Tropical Forest. -- 58. View in Tropical Forest.

Long a dream to shorten the passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the US-sponsored Darien Expedition was to search for a canal route connecting the Caribbean with the Pacific. The expedition was beset with problems almost from the beginning, and O'Sullivan was apparently hampered by poor weather conditions and dense tropical vegetation. At least 200 stereoscopic negatives were apparently exposed, along with an unknown number of larger plates. These views were primarily created for Government use and apparently never were widely distributed.

Property of a New York Lady