Monarch Pass Continental Divide Sign Postcard #CMO-S23732
Brief Description
Two signs are shown on top of Monarch Pass in this image. The image was scanned from an unused postcard that was likely developed sometime during the mid-1950s.
Info
- Date: Circa 1953-'56
- Photographer: Jim Anderson
- Additional Credits: A. & S. Sales Co.
- Medium: Postcard
- Size:
- ID: CMO-S23732
- Acquisition Date: March 2024
- Repository: Coloradotopia Archives
Scanned with basic cropping. Digital enhancements to the featured image on this page are unknown. The full scan image has had auto white balance applied.
Image use restricted.
Image Dating Comments
Signs from the 1940s were located on the southern side of the highway, with the Atlantic Ocean arrow pointing to the left and the Pacific Ocean arrow pointing to the right. It is believed that this set of signs was added on the northern side of the highway around 1953 or 1954.
These signs were replaced by 1957. This archive contains a photo that was captured here in 1957 that shows the new sign in place.
The healthy pine tree on the right directly behind that sign also gives a hint as to the date that the image was captured. An image from this archive that is dated to 1956 shows that this pine tree had been ravaged by the summer of 1956, and there were no pine needles left on those lower branches. The winter of 1955-’56 is likely the latest that this photo could have been taken.
Backside
Comments & Discussion
This postcard was printed using a lithographic printing process. This is evident due to the dots that can be seen in the scanned versions or under magnification.
Winter photos from this location are not nearly as common as the summer photos. At this point in the 1950s, the signs were on the northern side of the road, opposite the Monarch Crest parking lot. This side of the road would not have been a pleasant place to stop and pose for a photograph during the winter. There was not much space once the snowbanks started piling up.
Condition, Aging & Authenticity: There are spatterings of colored ink on the backside that range from aqua blue to green and black. Two corners on the front side show heavy wear.
There is a small handful of scratches on the front’s surface, but the surface is mostly unblemished upon entry into the archive. The surface lacks any real glossiness like that which is found on many of the real photo postcards from this era.
Full Scan
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.
