A substantial lot of 32 antique stereoview cards documenting the 1902 eruption of Mount Pelée and the destruction of St. Pierre, Martinique — one of the deadliest volcanic disasters in recorded history, which killed an estimated 28,000–30,000 people in a matter of minutes.
This collection includes cards published by Underwood & Underwood (New York, London, Toronto, Ottawa) and Keystone View Company, two of the leading stereoview publishers of the early 20th century. Subjects span the full arc of the disaster:
• Dramatic active-eruption views with towering ash and smoke plumes rising from the volcano
• Panoramic landscape and coastal views of Martinique and the volcano
• Ruins and aftermath views of St. Pierre — collapsed buildings, scorched trees, and desolate streets
• One card showing St. Pierre before the destruction, along the river — a rare glimpse of the city as it stood prior to the eruption
• Additional scenes of the surrounding devastation in the region
Condition: As with material this age (120+ years old), expect general wear consistent with the era — edge wear, toning, and some corner softening. A few cards are housed in protective plastic sleeves. All cards retain legible captions and publisher imprints. Please examine all photos closely, as they form part of the description — item(s) sold as-is.
Standard stereoview size, approx. 3.5" x 7" each, originally intended for viewing through a stereoscope for a 3D effect. An excellent lot for collectors of disaster photography, volcanology, Caribbean/French colonial history, or early stereo photography — with enough volume here to build out a themed sub-collection or resell individually.
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