Stereo analysis
AnalyzedVerdict
Genuine stereo pair87%
The two photographs contain the viewpoint difference needed to produce genuine depth.
- Depth spread
- 2px
- The range of horizontal difference between the two views. More spread generally means more depth; 0–1 px usually indicates a monoview.
- Match
- 100%
- The share of usable picture detail that can be matched between the left and right views. A higher number means a more reliable comparison.
- Vertical
- 1px
- Vertical drift between matched details. Lower is better; 4 px or more can indicate camera movement, scan skew, or poor alignment.
Watkins’ New Series stereoview, no. 3639, captioned “View from the Residence of Chas. Crocker, Esq., S. F.” with “California St.” printed beneath. The caption locates the camera at Crocker’s residence in San Francisco; it does not identify the foreground houses as his property.
The elevated view takes in a sloping street bordered by closely spaced houses, with exterior steps, shallow porches, shuttered windows, and ornamental cornices. Trees line the nearer side of the street. Beyond, overlapping roofs and larger buildings climb a rounded hill whose crest remains largely open, with a faint ridge in the distance. The hill and individual buildings are not named on the card.
The paired photographs are mounted on an orange card with rounded corners and a plain pink reverse. The side imprints read “WATKINS’ NEW SERIES,” “YOSEMITE AND PACIFIC COAST.” and “26 MONTGOMERY STREET,” with “AND WOODWARD’S GARDEN, S. F.” The number 26 belongs to the publisher’s address; 3639 is the view number printed beside the caption. There is no reverse catalogue or legible inscription to provide further identification or dating.
The photographs are clean and retain good architectural detail. A small area of surface loss affects the pink reverse paper at the lower edge; the card is otherwise sound.
- Title on card
- No. 3639. View from the Residence of Chas. Crocker, Esq., S. F. California St.
- Medium
- Stereoview
- Subject
- California, Outdoor Scene
- Dimensions
- 6.96 × 3.46 in (176.8 × 87.9 mm)
- Condition
- Photographs clean and well detailed. Small area of surface loss to the pink reverse paper at the lower edge; otherwise sound.
- Catalogue no.
- MSV1865
Catalogue details
Location
Charles Crocker residence site, California Street, Nob Hill (now Grace Cathedral), San Francisco — camera position · San Francisco, California, United States
Camera position · Exact camera position · 85% confidence
Title “No. 3639. View from the Residence of Chas. Crocker, Esq., S. F. California St.” Crocker's Nob Hill mansion occupied the California/Taylor block given after 1906 to the Episcopal Diocese for Grace Cathedral (Grace Cathedral history; PCAD). Pin is the camera position; view direction not identified.
