Lot 73

Lot 73

Amazing cabinet card of an early El Paso, Texas street scene. Front and center we see an astonishing early wooden-wheeled oxen cart hauling a load of wood limbs and branches.  Off to the right we see men next to the boardwalk talking and they appear to be men of color. The first sign we see reads La Tienda Nueva de B. Schuster y Cia, which translates to The New B. Schuster and Company Store. Directly below is Alberts & Co., Druggists. Their sign reads Perfumery Toilet Articles Co. on the right side and Chemicals, Patent Medicines on the left. There is a large mortar and pestle at the top center with the letters BOCA. We found a listing for A.K. and E.N. Akers as druggists at 10 S. El Paso Street in an 1885 directory. The large structure in the background has numerous men in the street including what appears to be at least one African American gentleman. There is another cart just barely visible behind the oxen cart and possibly a food vendor as we see a man in a Sombrero-Cordobes-type hat reaching into his basket. 
The image is in very good plus condition with great tones and contrast. There is a scratch barely seen at the top left margin that extends into the photo and a few spots as seen. By Parker, El Paso, Texas. A rare Texas cabinet card!