Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 11:46:45 -0400

Here is some information regarding each of the stereoviews. Any information in quotes is taken directly from his advertising regarding the Holy Land Series.

The Holy Land Series was taken in summer of 1867. W.E. was a member of the Quaker City Expedition which was to have sailed with many personalities; e.g., General Sherman, Mark Twain, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, and many prominent members of the Plymouth Church. Sherman & Beecher cancelled out. The price for passage was high ($1,200) and the trip was long (5 1/2 months). Passengers initially had to be screened by a 'board' so that only the 'elite' would be allowed passage. Of course, once Beecher and Sherman cancelled they were hard pressed to take as many passengers as they had wanted to so the 'screening' process ended. Mark Twain wrote 'Innocents Abroad' of course about the trip. And several passengers were correspondents for several newspapers (Alta Californian, New York Sun, Brooklyn Eagle, etc.).

It is thought that the Plymouth Church paid for W.E.'s passage in exchange for the first set of negatives of the Holy Land (and to document the Plymouth Church passengers on board). The stereoviews would be used in the Sunday School there. I also think that W.E. contracted with A. O. Van Lennep (a New York Sunday School Teachers' Agency) for $$$ in exchange for the second set of negatives. A. O. Van Lennep published a series of 60 stereoviews called "Views of Palestine and the East," and sold them along with lecture services by W.E. This same set of 60 was also published by George W. Thorne of New York City.

Another set of slides was published that contained 67 views. And several other 3rd and 4th generation bootleg slides were also sold. Their quality is generally inferior to the quality of the first set. No doubt other stereoviews exist that were not part of a published series. I have about 20 of these. With that all in mind here is what I can tell you about the W. E. stereoviews that you hold in your collection. (NOTE: In some instances I have put a month and/or a day that the view was taken. This information comes from W.E.'s personal diary of the expedition.)

81:7509:0001 (September, 1867) This stereoview is NOT one of the series of 60. It's the first time that I've seen this slide. My best guess is that it was taken at Ephesus (judging by the terrain compared to other views of Ephesus that I have); but certainly can be titled as from the Holy Land. I don't know if this was part of the series of 67 views either. But one would assume that W.E. took many, many views that weren't eventually published for one reason or another. I identified the man in the lower right corner as Bloodgood Haviland Cutter (if you can believe that). He was from Little Neck. NY and was known as the "Poet Lariat" on the Quaker City Expedition. I am fairly sure that is him.

81:7509:0002 (1867) This is another stereoview that is not part of the series. My best guess here is that this is Constantinople taken "at anchor in the mouth of the Golden Horn." (W.E. quote)

83:1232:0001 (October, 1867) Stereoview #29 from the series of 60 stereoviews. Title and caption: "Pompey's Pillar, Alexandria, Egypt. It is composed of one solid shaft of red granite, 100 feet high."

85:1330:0001 GEH NEG: 43745 This stereoview was taken most likely in 1865 at the New York Sanitary Fair. I've only seen about 5 or 6 of these. But they were supposedly reenactments of colonial scenes such as the title on the back 'Wedding'; another example was "New England Kitchen, Interior View" but again these were reenactments. Not sure how many were taken. There is a woman at the Smithstonian who knows more about these. I can dig up her name if you are interested.

88:1028:0001 GEH NEG: 41841 (September 24th, 1867) Stereoview # 7 from the series of 60 stereoviews. Title and caption: "Bethlehem of Judea. Looking south-east, showing the Church of the Nativity, Frank Mountain, and the Wilderness of Judea in the distance."

88:1028:0002 GEH NEG: 41842 (September 24th, 1867) Stereoview #1 from the series of 60 stereoviews. Title and caption: "Jerusalem. From Mouth Olivet. Looking west across the Valley of Jehoshaphat, showing Mount Moriah, Mount Zion, and Mount Calvary."

If I can be of any additional help to you regarding W.E., please don't hesitate to contact me.

Randy James