https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:27:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2026/10/1892-large-30-75-x-42-5-in-promotional-map-of-south-san-francisco-california/ https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2026/10/1892-large-30-75-x-42-5-in-promotional-map-of-south-san-francisco-california/#comments Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:27:39 +0000 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2026/10/1892-large-30-75-x-42-5-in-promotional-map-of-south-san-francisco-california/


Large-format circa 1892 Rand McNally promoting the development of South San Francisco. This map was issued to promote the development of South San Francisco as an industrial adjunct to its sister city to the north. The mapmakers have used a number of interesting “persuasive” techniques to enhance the promotional impact of the image. Scale itself is used as a promotional tool, with South San Francisco drawn at a much larger scale than the rest of the map to give it prominence. The city of San Francisco is shown schematically and with a north/south compression of scale. Furthermore, three text boxes extol the area’s benefits, ranging from its sunny weather to the fact that San Mateo county enjoys very low taxation. It is noted that South San Francisco is in position to benefit from its strategic position along the only land approach to the city of San Francisco. San Bruno, which was in existence since the 1860s, is not shown, though San Bruno Station is. Golden Gate Park is drawn in a trapezoidal shape. South San Francisco was incorporated in 1908. Its present borders are considerably different than those depicted on the map. At one time part of the 14,600 acre Rancho Buri-Buri, the site of the city was selected by G. They partnered with some Chicago backers and formed two joint stock corporations, the South San Francisco Land and Improvement Company, and the Western Meat Company. Swift chose the name of South San Francisco to follow his other holdings in South Chicago and South Omaha. The language in the map reflects this history, treating South San Francisco as a business enterprise. As such this map represents an important historical document for the role of land speculation in late 19th century urban expansion in the San Francisco peninsula. This map was lithographed in four colors. Earnshaw & Punson of Cincinnati, Ohio did the survey work and drew the map, which then engraved and published by Rand McNally & Co. OCLC 83635006 (UC-Berkeley and Yale); 77896810 (Huntington); and 953571798 (Stanford). Reese, 5/03, then Warren Heckrotte Collection (PBA, 2016). Rand, McNally & Co. In 1856, William H. Rand opened a printing shop in Chicago and two years later hired a newly arrived Irish immigrant, Andrew McNally, to work in his shop. In 1868, the two men, along with Rand’s nephew George Amos Poole, established Rand McNally & Co. And bought the Tribune’s printing business. The company initially focused on printing tickets and timetables for Chicago’s booming railroad industry, and the following year supplemented that business by publishing complete railroad guides. The first Rand McNally map, created using a new cost-saving wax engraving method, appeared in the December 1872 edition of its Railroad Guide. Rand McNally became an incorporated business in 1873; with Rand as its president, McNally as vice president, and George Poole as treasurer. Rand McNally published its first road map, the New Automobile Road Map of New York City & Vicinity, in 1904. Bancroft has a copy dated 1891, also by Rand, McNally & Co.

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73 x 55 cm (29 x 21.5 in). Oakland-Bay-Brücke in San Francisco. The photograph is oriented towards the west, taken from Yerba Buena Island and looking out over the western portion of the bridge, with downtown San Francisco in the background. This work is undated, but from context – most importantly the two-way traffic on the upper level of the bridge – can be assumed to be from the early-mid 1950s. Initially, both interurban electric trains (of the Western Pacific and Southern Pacific) and streetcars (of the Key System) utilized the lower level, along with buses and trucks. By 1958, both rail and streetcar service had ended, but the lower deck continued to be used exclusively for trucks and buses until 1963. Unlike the eastern portion of the bridge, which was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake and later rebuilt in a different style, this western portion of the bridge appears the same today as in this photograph. The entities involved in the production of this work all appear to have been short-lived. There is no evidence of Foto Moulin Studio having published any other works. Westermann Wandbilder produced a handful of similar vibrantly-colored large format photographic prints around this time, and appears to have been a branch of the well-established atlas and educational publisher Westermann Verlag in Braunschweig. Geographische Typenlandschaften looks to have worked exclusively with Westermann Wandbilder and may have been another branch of the Westermann group of companies.

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This is a very nice trophy. A couple small dings. 16.5 inches tall.

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100.5 x 72 cm (39.5 x 28 cm). A fascinating and rare plan of South San Francisco compiled and drawn by the Punnett Brothers and lithographed by the Halpin Lithograph Company. The site of South San Francisco was selected by G. They partnered with some Chicago backers and formed two joint stock corporations, one named South San Francisco Land and Improvement Company, while the other branch was known as the Western Meat Company. The city’s manufacturing roots and industrial character are evident on the map. The Western Meat Company holds several large tracts of land for its stockyards and slaughterhouse. But the extensive variety of industries stands out, and we see iron works, smelting operations, pottery and brick productions, and more. The map gives the impression of a constantly changing settlement and physical environment, with new railroads, tide lots, shrinking estuaries, and new canals and reservoirs. Many of the factories were linked both inland via the South San Francisco Land and; Improvement Company railroad and to the bay via newly constructed ferry slips. This is only the second example of this map of which we are aware. No copies of the map are located by OCLC/WorldCat. The only institutional holding we found is Rumsey #10747.

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Large cabinet photograph showing the Atlas Gas Engine Company buildings in Oakland California. Photographed by R J Walters Company of San Francisco. (Empress of San Francisco) and a couple that look like tug boats. John Lorimer and Axel Warenskjold started Atlas Gas Engine Company in 1903. The specializes in gas engines for boats. They moved from San Francisco to Oakland after the 1906 earthquake and fire. They operated into 1950 and were well known for their diesel maritime engines. Image is 9 ½” x 7 ¾” and overall 12 ¾” x 10 ¾”. Image has some light soiling and nicks. The mount is worn and chipped. Review the images for better details.

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It measures 6 x 8 inches and is in nice condition.

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The product is a large lot of vintage photographs featuring various themes such as Victorian, landscapes, the West, and San Francisco. The images showcase subjects like monuments, houses, World War I and II, tourism, horses, military, and landscapes. The photographs are predominantly black and white, capturing scenes from different eras and locations in the United States. Large Lot – Looks to be turn of the Century to about the 1930’s. What you see is what you will receive.

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It measures 9.5 x 7.5 inches and is in great condition. The mount has nicks out of corners at top and bottom right corners.

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This vintage San Francisco flag is made from a cotton cloth, with yellow border sewn in place, and printed design visible on both sides. Please note overall staining and other wear from age. Made in USA by the former Paramount Flag Co. Mid to late 20th century. Size: 4′ x 6′ ft approx (1.2m x 1.8m).

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Large ungraded Coin lot – 1800’s and early 1900’s. I think it is a VF45. This item is in the category “Coins & Paper Money\Coins: US\Collections, Lots”. The seller is “shotonebird” and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped to United States.

• Denomination: Large Cent
• Year: 1900
• Strike Type: Business
• Grade: Ungraded
• Mint Location: Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, Charlotte, Heaton, Carson City, Dahlonega, West Point, New Orleans, Ottawa, Winnipeg, New York, California, Washington D.C.
• Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
• Certification: U.S. Mint, Uncertified

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