American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography

5 stereoviews on yellow mounts, each with verso imprint for Holmes, with image number accomplished in manuscript, and inked caption from previous owner, M. H. Reynolds. Each mount recto also bears Views comprise:

An image taken from Murray street, looking down Broadway, featuring the "Herald building on the left Astor house opposite and Trinity Cathedral in the distance." -- An image taken "From Houston St up Broadway," showing Mitchell Vance & Co. on the right. -- An image taken from 9th street, looking up Broadway, with Grace Church prominently featured at the end of the street. -- An image taken from Prince Street looking up Broadway, with a "view of Metropolitan Hotel upon the right." -- An an image taken from Murray Street, looking up Broadway, with "Stewart's whole sale house upon the right." -- Together, 5 stereoviews of Broadway.

Silas A. Holmes (1820-1886) was an entrepreneurial photographer and inventor who notably operated a studio on Broadway. It is said that he would blow a bugle from his window to get the attention of potential customers crossing the Broadway Bridge below. Holmes worked throughout the mid-19th century, capturing images of many New York City buildings and neighborhoods as the city grew rapidly and downtown became highly commercialized. Though not much is known about Holmes' life, it is known that he also produced photographs of West Virginia after the Civil War.