1944 Rabbit Ears Pass Continental Divide Sign Photograph #CRA-44IND
Brief Description
This picture shows an Indian motorcycle in front of the Rabbit Ears Pass Continental Divide sign in 1944.
Info
- Date: September 1944
- Photographer: Unknown
- Medium: Original Photograph
- Size: 4 7/8" x 3 3/8"
- ID: CRA-44IND
- Acquisition Date: Sept. 2024
- Repository: Coloradotopia Archives
Scanned with basic cropping and no enhancements.
Image use restricted.
Image Dating Comments
This image has been historically dated based on the typewritten text that is seen on the front.
Comments & Discussion
The visible graffiti signifies that this was probably not a new sign here at the time the image was captured. The signs that were being added around the state by the highway department at this point tended to be larger than this one and they had different layouts. One of these would soon be added on Rabbit Ears Pass as well. See it here.
Photographs of this style, with typewritten text across the top, are not common or typical for this period. The horizontal spacing of the text within the frame is far from perfect, with the ‘O’ in ‘Colorado’ extending off to the right of the image. This looks like a serviceman may have put this photo into a typewriter himself in order to add the note at the top. The ‘C’ in Colorado is out of vertical alignment, as are a few other letters. This also makes it look consistent with someone trying to hold this in place carefully while adding the text via typewriter.
Condition, Aging & Authenticity: The front surface has a matte quality with no glossiness, but it is in nearly unblemished condition. There is damage in the lower left along the border.
There is more evidence that the text was added with a typewriter near the upper edge of the backside. The ink can be seen partially coming through, and the periods are visible with different levels of ink penetrating through to the backside. This looks like ink that was getting pounded into the paper by a typewriter.
The backside has slight hints of darkening due to age, and several minor marks of various kinds.
About the Coloradotopia Archives. The Coloradotopia archives hold a large collection of historical images that document Colorado’s auto history in the mountains. You can read more about the Coloradotopia archive project here.
