Antique Stereograph (Stereoview): "Indians of Arizona and New Mexico," Carleton E. Watkins, Photographer, Circa 1880

(Native American Interest) Antique Stereograph (Stereoview): "Indians of Arizona and New Mexico," Carleton E. Watkins, Photographer, Circa 1880. S. F. [San Francisco]: Carleton E. Watkins, 427 Montgomery St, circa 1880. A pair of 3" x 3-1/8" albumen photographs on an original "Watkins' New Series of Pacific Coast Views" orange card mount, with publication information printed in black to left and right margins recto, and title to lower margin recto; lavender verso with modern pencil inscription "Apaches." Studio group portrait depicting two young Native American men wearing hide leggings and moccasins. The figure to the left poses with a bow and arrow, and with a fringed quiver strapped across his back. His companion is seated with a hatchet resting on his knees. Both have adorned their chests with painted geometric designs. The condition of the stereograph is (6/10) - VERY GOOD; Moderate or mild condition issues that attract the eye under normal viewing conditions, including light spotting to the photographs and minor edge wear to the recto, with minor fading along the edges of the verso. Carleton Watkins' Southwest Expedition and Attributed Origins While this specific stereograph is officially included in the publisher's list of 100 views credited to Watkins' April 10 through May 18, 1880 Arizona trip, modern photographic scholarship reveals a more nuanced history. According to Jeremy Rowe, the leading authority on historic Arizona photography, "The New Mexico images may have been obtained from another photographer since I am not aware of [Watkins] traveling to the Santa Fe area [during this period]." Expert Ethnographic Identification: Jicarilla Apache Beyond the publishing history, Jeremy Rowe's analysis provides critical ethnographic context for this scarce studio portrait. Commenting specifically on this image, Rowe notes: "Identified as Apache, likely Jicarilla Apache from New Mexico which could tie to the same time as the other Santa Fe images [i.e., 1876-79]." This attribution makes the piece an incredibly compelling artifact, bridging the studio work of early Southwestern regional photographers with Watkins' legendary San Francisco distribution network. A SCARCE, HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT, AND DISCUSSABLY RARE PORTRAIT OF NATIVE AMERICAN MATERIAL CULTURE FROM ONE OF THE GIANTS OF 19TH-CENTURY WESTERN PHOTOGRAPHY. # 001282