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Stereoview Inventory
Learn About Great Lakes Nautical Stereoviews

If it’s listed here, it’s available. Email me directly at baillod@shipwreck.info if you’d like to purchase.
I am negotiable, particularly if you’re buying multiple items. Additional photos and description available upon request.

None of these card scans have been sharpened or digitally enhanced. In general, they are somewhat sharper than their scans show, as I scanned them in their mylar sleeves.

SV1 – The steamer St. Albans at Cleveland - This is an original, hand-mounted stereoview by Cleveland, Ohio photographer AKA Liebich. It was made about 1879 and is on Liebich’s original cardstock. It is a sharp, early-generation card showing the ill-fated steamer St. Albans which was lost off Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1881. Her wreck was located in 1976 by Kent Bellrichard and Richard Zaleski. The St. Albans shipwreck is now on the National Register of Historic Places. This is one of only two known images of her. The card is in VG condition and is quite rare. It has amazing stereoscopic depth when viewed in a stereo-opticon. I’ve seen three instances of this card for sale in 20 years. For a complete description of this card and the wreck of the St. Albans, see my article at: https://tinyurl.com/St-Albans-Stereo. Asking $150
SV2 – Schooner Frank D. Barker at Chicago – This is an original hand-mounted stereoview by the Chicago photographer Philomon B. Greene made in 1870 on the Chicago River. It is the only known image of the schooner Frank D. Barker (1867 – 1887), which was lost on Spider Island in Green Bay. The wreck was located in 2025 and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. I’ve only seen two examples of this card in 20 years, and I am keeping the other. This image is not in the Labadie database or any other online source. The card in is VG condition and the image is sharp. Asking $150
SV3 – Ore Docks and Schooners Marquette, Michigan – This is an original C.F. Brubaker / B.F. Childs view on their cardstock made about 1872 of Marquette Harbor. The view shows two schooners, one heavily laden with iron ore moored at one of Marquette’s early gravity ore docks. The old Civil War canon that once stood watch over the harbor can be seen. In the lower right, we see B.F. Childs’ shadow and that of his photo apparatus. The card is in VG condition and the view is very sharp. Asking $100
SV4 – Ice Blockade at Marquette June 1873 – This is an original C.F. Brubaker / B.F. Childs view on their cardstock made in June of 1873 of Marquette Harbor. It shows the 1873 ice blockade which trapped several early vessels. Two heavily laden schooners and three or four early steamers are shown in the view. All appear trapped in the heavy ice which has blown into the harbor. Historians have identified many of these vessels from news accounts of the event, although the names are not visible in this image. The card is in VG- condition with a slight water stain and some chipping, but the view is sharp. It is an uncommon card that rarely comes on the market. Asking $80
SV5 – Steamers G.J. Truesdell and DePere at the Goodrich Dock in Milwaukee in July of 1880 – This is a bootleg copy of an original H.H. Bennett stereoview showing two Goodrich steamers at their dock on the Milwaukee River. The view was shot from the Wisconsin Street Bridge and shows the Michigan Street Bridge. I own an example of the original Bennett card which was published by J.C. Iverson. This generic view is a reprint of the card made about 1885. It is in VG condition with a slight bit of damage to the tops of each panel, but is otherwise reasonably sharp. The card is rare as an original or reprint. Asking $50
SV6 – Chicago River from the Rush Street Bridge in 1869 – This is an original John Carbutt stereoview on his cardstock shot prior to the Chicago Fire. It shows a famous scene on the Chicago River taken from the Rush Street Bridge. This image has been published in a few notable books but original examples of the card are uncommon. The card is in VG condition and is very sharp with great details, including the horses and people. Asking $75
SV7 – Tug G.W. Gardner in Buffalo Harbor 1867 – This is an original stereoview by Buffalo photographer Charles L. Pond on his original cardstock. It is an extremely sharp and well-composed view showing the tug G.W. Gardner (1862 – 1905) owned by George Hand (this the hand emblem on the hull.) Two skiffs are in front of her and the wharf is astern. A large barkentine is on her left. This is an excellent example of a rare card with only a handful of extant examples known. It is in Excellent condition and very sharp. Asking $150
SV8 – Whaleback steamer Christopher Columbus off Chicago in 1893 – This is an original stereoview card by T.W. Ingersoll, made for the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. It shows the brand new whaleback steamer Christopher Columbus in her original configuration with only two decks. The card is in G+ condition with a chip missing from the corner and slightly weak exposure showing some original wipe marks. The card is not rare, but like most Great Lakes vessel stereoviews, original examples only come on the market occasionally. Asking $20
SV9 – Steamer Corinthian in the LaChine Rapids – This is an original stereoview card by J.G. Parks of Montreal. It shows the sidewheel steamer Corinthian running the LaChine Rapids near Montreal in about 1880. The narrow channel through the rapids was always treacherous, eventually necessitating the construction of the LaChine Canal to bypass them. Many vessels wrecked or were damaged running the rapids and several stereoviews were made of early vessels in the rapids, mostly by J.G. Parks. This card is in VG condition and is a nice, sharp example. Views of vessels in the LaChine Rapids are fairly common but have become increasingly collectable. Asking $20
SV10 – Schooner Curlew with tugs A.A. Eustaphieve and C.W. Evans in ice off Buffalo, May 1867 – This is an original stereoview by Charles L. Pond of Buffalo made in May of 1867. It is one of his early, first-generation views and bears his plate on the reverse. It captures the famous Buffalo ice blockade of May 1867 and is remarkably stereoscopic when viewed in a 3D viewer. The vessels are identified on the back of my other instance of this card. The view is exceptionally sharp and the card in excellent condition. This is the only know image of any of these three vessels and the view is one of the earliest photos we have of vessels in distress on the Lakes. Asking $100
SV11 – Winter Layup at Oswego, New York c. 1870 – This is an original stereoview showing Oswego harbor made by Oswego photographer E.M. Collins about 1870. The card bears his plate on the reverse. It shows dozens of schooners rafted in the harbor for winter layup. The card is in VG condition but the panel exposure is uneven. The left panel is quite sharp and blows up nicely to give a stunningly detailed view. The view is rare and I’ve only seen two instances in 20 years. Asking $60
SV12 – Wrecking Steamer Magnet at Mackinac Island, July 1873 – This is an original stereoview card by Michigan stereoview maker James A. Jenney and is on his original cardstock. It shows a scene overlooking the docks on Mackinac Island. The view can be dated by the presence of the big sidewheel wrecking tug Magnet, which is visible at the dock with her name legible on the sidewheel. This is one of a series of views made that day showing the Magnet. The card is in VG condition and is very sharp, allowing the name on the sidewheel to be resolved. The card is uncommon but I’ve seen several on the market in the last 20 years. Asking $40
SV13 – Steamer Oswego Belle at Charlotte, New York, 1876 – This sharp view of the Oswego Belle at Charlotte, New York was made in 1876 by an unknown photographer. The card is unusually vivid and has exceptional depth when viewed in a 3D viewer. It is a fairly common card that I’ve seen several times in the last 20 years but this one is the only example on the market right now. The card is in excellent condition. Asking $40
SV14 – Steamer Portsmouth in Buffalo Harbor in 1867 – This early Buffalo stereoview is probably the work of Charles L. Pond but the card has no markings. It can be dated to 1867 by the presence of the steamer Portsmouth (1853 – 1868) whose nameboard is clearly legible. On the left is a schooner with a partly readable nameboard that says XXXXX of Port Stanley. It’s a short name but despite having the Canadian registers, I can’t find a matching schooner. I personally like the stunning barkentine on the right with her big square yards of sail standing. The card is in VG- condition with some smudging and a slightly lighter right panel, but it is generally quite sharp. The view is uncommon, having come on the market a handful of times in 20 years. Asking $50
SV15 – Sault Ste. Marie Ship Canal about 1870 – This original stereoview of the first Soo Locks was made by Brubaker and Childs of Marquette and shows the first lock about 1870. It is a nice, sharp view. The seam visible at the bottom is from the mylar sleeve and is not part of the image. This card is in VG condition with some handling evidence, but otherwise very solid. It is an uncommon card that I’ve only seen offered a handful of times. Asking $50
SV16 – Interior View of the Steamer Montreal c. 1875 – This is a rare interior view of the early sidewheel steamer Montreal (1860-1914), which ran on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence. The card was made about 1875 by the Montreal photographer J.G. Parks and bears his stamp on the reverse. The card is in VG condition with some slight watermarking from the original development of the plates. It is a moderately rare view with no other examples currently on the market. Asking $40
SV17 – Steamer Montgomery and schooner Henry A. Kent at Chicago, 1874 – This is a bootleg made about 1880 of an earlier card by J.H. Abbott of Chicago. It shows the early steamer Montgomery (1856-1901) on the Chicago River across from the schooner Henry A. Kent, whose stern is visible. The Mongomery and the Kent both wrecked on Lake Superior. This card is in VG condition but is a lower resolution bootleg of a sharper original which I own. It is relatively common with an example showing up about once a year on the market. Asking $40
SV18 – Schooner W.O. Goodman at Chicago, c. 1900 – This is a relatively modern H.C. White stereoview made about 1900. It is a deeply curved card on gray cardstock, typical of later, mass-produced lithograph cards. This example is in VG condition with very mild fading. The view shows the Manitowoc built schooner W.O. Goodman (1882-1917) being towed under one of Chicago’s bascule bridges. The Goodman went to the coast in 1906, sailing out of Boston and was abandoned around 1917. This is one of only two known views of the Goodman. Despite being a later commercially mass-produced stereo it is relatively uncommon with examples coming on the market every other year or so. Asking $30
SV19 – Buffalo, New York Lighthouse Pier, 1870 – This is an original Charles L. Pond stereoview on his cardstock from about 1870. It shows the new Buffalo Lighthouse pier with an unidentified steamer entering the harbor. Pond’s Buffalo nautical views are fairly rare and are very collectable. This particular card is uncommon but shows a less interesting scene. It is in excellent condition. Asking $40
SV20 – Steamer India at Buffalo Harbor c. 1871 – This is an original Charles L. Pond stereoview on his cardstock from 1871. It shows what is almost certainly the earliest photo of the iron hulled steamer India which, along with her sisters, China and Japan, was among the longest serving passenger steamers on the Lakes. The India’s pennant is easily legible. The card is sharp and in excellent condition. It is one of Pond’s more common views, but I’ve only seen a handful offered in the past decade. Asking $70
SV21 – Barge Virginius under repair in the Menomonee River at Milwaukee, c. 1884 – This stereoview was made about 1884 and is likely a bootleg of an original by a local Milwaukee stereoview maker, possibly William H. Sherman. It shows the barge Viginius (1881-1903) very early in her career before her engines were added. She was later converted to a bulk freight steamer and renamed Thomas Stimson. This is the only known photo of the Virginius before she was converted. The card is in VG- condition. The left panel is a little underdeveloped and the right has some scuff damage. The card is uncommon. I’ve seen an example come on the market every few years. Asking $35
SV22 – Chicago Pierhead Light c. 1890 – This stereoview was published by Webster & Albee of Rochester, New York in about 1892. Webster & Albee were not photographers themselves but publishers who made stereoviews of scenery from many parts of the country. Their Great Lakes views are very collectable and are generally quite sharp. This card shows a nice closeup view of he rarely photographed Chicago pierhead light. The card itself is fairly common although no instances of it are being offered anywhere else at the time of this listing. The card is in VG condition. Asking $20
SV23 – Steamer Burlington entering Buffalo Harbor c. 1868 – This stereoview is a bootleg made about 1880 of an original Charles L. Pond stereoview from 1868. It shows the steamer Burlington (1857-1895) entering Buffalo Harbor. The vessel’s name isn’t readily visible on this bootleg, but it is clear on the Pond original, which I own. The card is in VG condition. It is a fairly common card, particularly the later bootlegs such as this. The Pond original is quite rare. Asking $25
SV24 – Schooner Queen of the Lakes at Chicago, c. 1870 – This stereoview is a bootleg made about 1880 of an earlier original, probably made about 1870 by a Chicago photographer, possibly John Carbutt. The view shows a very busy Chicago River with the Canadian schooner Queen of the Lakes (1857-1906) prominently visible. This is a very common stereoview, particularly in bootleg. It is in excellent condition, but it is a second or third generation exposure. It is still fairly sharp, but not nearly as good as the original card from which it was bootlegged. Asking $20
SV25 – Steamer Meteor in the Locks at Sault Ste. Marie, c. 1870 – This stereoview is a bootleg copy of an earlier view, possibly by Brubaker and Childs. It shows the steamer Meteor (1863-1927) preparing to enter the locks at Sault Ste. Marie about 1870. I own a much sharper example of this card which makes the vessel much easier to identify. This particular card is weakly exposed, but still quite visible and can be nicely brought out by increasing the contrast, although I’ve not done so here. The card is in VG condition with a small corner chip. This card is fairly uncommon, although I’ve seen a few of the bootlegs come on the market in the last decade. I’ve never seen an original of this card, only bootlegs. Asking $30
SV26 – Isle Royale, Rock Harbor, Shaw/Smithwick Island Gap, 1868 – This stereoview is part of a larger set of about 30 stereoviews made in 1868 by a scientific expedition to Isle Royale made by the University of Michigan. The views were later commercially published in the 1870s. This is an original, first generation example from the set in excellent condition with very good contrast. It shows the gap between Shaw Island and Smithwick Island on the south side of Rock Harbor. The view is almost unchanged despite the passage of 150 years. The original 1868 U of M stereoviews of Isle Royale are fairly rare and examples come on the market every few years. Asking $50
SV27 – Schooner James Couch at Chicago, 1872 – This stereoview is a decent quality bootleg made about 1880 of an original 1872 Gates Brothers stereoview. It shows the big, new schooner James Couch (1871-1905) at Chicago sporting unusual side-mounted leeboards that proved unsuccessful. They were later removed and a traditional centerboard was installed. The Couch was renamed Tasmania and lost in 1905 on Lake Erie with 8 lives. This card is in excellent condition and is fairly sharp for a bootleg. The Couch’s mast hoops and stays are nicely visible, but the image is reversed and her name is shown as a mirror image. I own the original Gates Brothers version of this card and it is also reversed. This card is rare in original and uncommon in bootleg form, but I have seen a handful of examples sell. It is often mistaken for a similar stereoview card showing the schooner Queen of the Lakes (SV24 on this page), which is much more common. Asking $35
SV28 – Unidentified early sidewheel steamer in the Lachine Rapids – This stereoview was made by Chisholm Brothers of Portland, Maine about 1890. It shows an artist conception of an early sidewheel steamer negotiating the LaChine Rapids at Montreal. The card is in VG- conditionwith a small crease on the back which does not effect the image on the front. LaChine rapids stereoviews are fairly common as is this example. Other examples are currently asking about $20. Asking $20
SV29 – Steamer Magnet in the LaChine Rapids about 1874 – This stereoview was made at Montreal in about 1875 by J.G. Parks. It shows an artist conception of the early steamer Magnet (1847-1903) braving the rapids in about 1874. The card is in VG- condition with wear to the corners but the images are unaffected. This view is quite common and similar examples are asking about $20. Asking $20
SV30 – Schooner Mary E. Perew on the Chicago River, c. 1880 – This stereoview is a bootleg made about 1882 from an earlier original made by the Gates Brothers in 1880. The card shows the only known photo of the schooner Mary E. Perew (1861-1905). Her name is nicely visible on the original Gates Brothers example which is in my collection. The vessel to her left with the ornate cutwater is unfortunately unidentifiable. The bootleg card is considerably lower resolution than the original but is in VG condition. It is fairly common in bootleg form. Asking $25
SV31 – Steamer, Schooner and Tug at Chicago c. 1874 – This stereoview is a bootleg made about 1880 of an earlier card made about 1874 by a local Chicago photographer, likely Gates Brothers. It shows a view on the Chicago River with a steamer, a schooner and a tug all in view. I believe the steamer is the iron hulled passenger steamer China, as I can see her flag better on my other views. The card is in VG condition but the original plate used by the photographer seems to have been damaged in the lower right corner. This is not a defect on this card, but rather, a flaw in the original negative. This card is common and I see it come on the market a few times each year. I have never seen the original offered, only bootlegs. Asking $20
SV32 – Ore boat John B. Watson at Two Harbors, MN, c. 1905 – This Keystone view dates from about 1905 and is a typical deeply curved gray mount that was mass produced in the early 20^th century. The card is in excellent condition and shows a busy scene at Two Harbors, MN with three ore boats. The only one readily identifiable is the C.W. Watson. The card is common compared to early, flat-mount cards but is one of less common Great Lakes nautical Keystone views. It has a nice description history of the Mesabi Range printed on the reverse. Asking $20
SV33 – Tug entering Buffalo Harbor in Ice, May 1867 – This stereoview is a bootleg made about 1880 of an original Charles L. Pond stereo that was made during the Buffalo Ice Jam of May 1867. The card was widely bootlegged and is now one of the most common Great Lakes nautical stereos seen. This example is in excellent condition and the exposure is pretty good compared to other examples I’ve seen. Even on the best examples, the tug is unidentifiable. Asking $15
About Great Lakes Maritime Stereoviews Stereoviews were the most popular format for outdoor photography between 1865 and 1885. During the classic era (1865-1885), most stereoviews were produced by small, local photographers who hand mounted the stereoscopic photographic plates onto their own monogramed cardstock. The “flat mount” stereoviews from the 1860s, 70s and 80s are now highly collectible as they often show important local history scenes. Most of the photos we have of early Great Lakes vessels come from the early stereoviews. Nearly every major Great Lakes port had one or more stereoview makers. The most prolific were Brubaker and Childs of Marquette, Michigan, John Carbutt of Chicago, W.H. Sherman of Milwaukee, Charles L. Pond of Buffalo and Caswell and Davy of Duluth, but many other small, local studios captured the important early view. Stereoviews were created by exposing two wet glass plates in a stereo-camera which had two lenses separated by the distance between human eyes. This resulted in an image set which, when viewed through a stereo-opticon viewer, created a true three dimensional image, similar to the later Viewmaster disks of the 1950s-70s. Not all stereoviews are actually stereoscopic. Some photographers cheated and simply pasted the same exact image twice onto their stereoview cards. On a truly stereoscopic card, the image perspective is noticeably different between the two panels. Stereoviews were often “boolegged” by later publishers who flouted copyright laws. These publishers would essentially photograph the stereoview of an original, local photographer and create a new, lower resolution glass plate, which they would then use to make “generic” versions of the same stereoview. They were often titled “American Scenery” or “Popular Series” and were lower resolution and often on cheaper cardstock. Bootleg cards are still antiquities themselves, but are not as desirable as the cards of the original photographer or publisher. Beginning about 1890, stereoviews became mass-produced and sold by catalog companies. These later stereoviews are often deeply curved and mounted on grey cardstock. Mostly made by companies like Underwood and Keystone, these later views are MUCH less valuable and less collectible. Those that show Great Lakes maritime scenes are still desirable and usually sell for $15 to $30 depending on their subject. Stereoviews, particularly those from the period 1865-1885, are antiquities in themselves. Many have interesting notations on the back revealing ownership, vessel names and historical context. They are generally not purchased solely for the photos they contain but rather, to own a piece of authentic Great Lakes maritime or photographic history. In terms of rarity, stereoviews, particularly the early flat mounts, are much rare than postcards. This is because they were generally hand-mounted and sold in quantities ranging from one or two to a few hundred at most. The survival rate for stereoviews is also low, as many rare, early views were thrown out in the 20^th century after being mingled with the later Victorian era curve-mount cards. As a result, most original flat-mount cards of Great Lakes nautical views on maker cardstock only come on the market once every few years. They are generally targets of opportunity rather than predictably priced commodoties. I have tried to price mine in accordance with what I have paid for similar examples but I am happy to accept offers, particularly for multiple cards. Historical stereoview cards should be stored in archival mylar sleeves. Special archival stereoview storage boxes are available from several online vendors. These boxes are made from archival cardboard (not the typical brown cardboard which is acidic and can discolor adjacent paper) and they have a slanted back. Avoid storing your stereoviews in moist or damp environments or in environments with extreme temperature fluctuations. Most importantly, do not leave your stereoviews explosed to sunlight for extended periods of time, as they can easily fade. Slide your stereoviews into mylar sleeves carefully, particularly if the image panel/s are becoming loose, as the panels can snag on the mylar and chip. Stereoviews that are dirty can be cleaned to some extent with the correct archival materials and I have some experience doing this, but it is best avoided.
Baillod Marine Antiquities Brendon Baillod 311 N. Stevenson St. DeForest, WI 53532 608.438.7246 baillod@shipwreck.info Venmo / Paypal: baillod@gmail.com