Sepia-toned photograph of a path lined by palm trees along the shore at Fort George Island near Jacksonville, Florida. It was issued by George Barker, a major photographer and view publisher of the era.

George Barker was a well-known prize-winning photographer and view publisher in the 19th century who began his career in his hometown of London, Ontario, Canada, in the late 1850s. In 1863 he moved to Niagara, New York, eventually opening his own photography studio. There became known for his views of the falls area, including what were probably the first paper stereoviews of Niagara Falls. Over about 30 years, he issued over 600 views on paper and glass, including several series of landscapes, as well as genre scenes and comic photographs. During the last two decades of his career he also published views of other places, such as Florida, California, and Colorado, which he purchased from other photographers. He also brought out series about the 1889 Johnstown flood, the Oil Creek Disaster, the Louisville Cyclone and the Columbian Exposition. His photographs are in numerous museum collections, including the Smithsonian Institution.

Photographer's Information Printed Verso: GEO. BARKER/ Landscape Photographer, No. 11 Main St., Niagara Falls, N.Y./ "BARKER'S VIEWS OF NIAGARA ARE THE FINEST WE HAVE YET SEEN/ OF THIS NOTED LOCALITY." - Boston Transcript./ FIRST PRICE GOLD MEDAL/ ST. LOUIS, 1886/ Copyright 1886, by Geo. Barker

Reference:

Rossi, Dale. "George Barker" from "Photo History." DPI Computer Graphics. 1998-2001. http://dpicg.com/collection/barker/intro.html (11 June 2002).