Postcards from Mecca. The California Desert Photographs of Sus...

by Ann Japenga

$60 · Offered by eBay

Discover the captivating story behind "Postcards From Mecca," a remarkable collection that offers an unparalleled glimpse into a lesser-known corner of the American West. Susie Keef Smith, seeking an escape from a troubled home life and the aftermath of childhood polio, took a job as postmaster in Mecca, located on the edge of California's Salton Sea. Alongside her cousin Lula Mae Graves, she embarked on an adventurous journey to photograph the last of the prospectors, burro packers, and stage stops in the remote desert east of California. Armed with a large format camera and a .38 revolver for protection, the women traveled through sandy washes and roadless canyons by burro, foot, and Ford. Their mission was to create postcards for the Post Office spinner rack, but their experiences and surroundings transformed them into pioneering documentary photographers of the wilderness. Their photographs serve as a vivid and rare portrait of this mysterious land, capturing the essence of a fading frontier. Susie Smith’s photographs nearly vanished from history after her death when they were discarded by a county estate administrator. Fortunately, a savvy archaeologist intervened, rescuing many of these invaluable images from a dumpster. This collection not only showcases stunning portraits of a remote and rugged landscape but also tells the compelling story of its heroic chroniclers—self-taught photographers of the 1920s and '30s who documented a unique chapter of American history. "Po

• Publisher: Tales of T.H.E. Mojave Road Publishing Company
• Year: 2019
• ISBN: 0914224417
• Condition: Fine

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.