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Golden Gate Bridge memorabilia - $975 (danville / san ramon)
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What we have here is a rare and wonderful collection of GGB memorabilia. It has taken many years to put this collection together. As a lifelong resident of the Bay Area I part with it most reluctantly, but downsizing forces me to do so.
Going clockwise in the upper left corner we have framed an original finance bond for $1000 for the bridge construction. Today we expect the federal or state government to fund major projects like this. But back in the 1930s if you were building a local public work the local community that would benefit from it were expected to pay for it. Hence the Golden Gate Bridge and Highway District. Below the bond are three photos of the bridge as it is being constructed. In the photo on the right we can see the battleship USS California sailing underneath the still unfinished bridge. More on that later.
Besides the bond is a rare, unframed Official Program “Fiesta Day”, a celebration now forgotten. When the Bay Bridge opened a year before authorities were taken completely by surprise when thousands of people showed up just to walk across the Bay Bridge before it opened to traffic. To avoid a repeat of this on the Golden Gate Bridge authorities arranged for Fiesta Day, a day for pedestrians only to cross the bridge before it was officially opened to traffic. They even sold tickets to the event, which lasted several days.
Next it is a framed collection of various photos and post cards of the Golden Gate and the Bridge during its construction. Most people don’t know this but the strait of water that divides Marin County from San Francisco County and is the entrance to the Bay is called the Golden Gate. Hence, the Bridge is named after the narrow strait of water that it crosses. Two postcards of the Golden Gate before the Bridge was constructed are on the bottom. These postcards date from around 1900.
Above them are photos and postcards of the Bridge during various stages of its construction. The Corvette emblems next to this collection is not part of this collection and is not for sale.
Moving down to the left bottom corner is a another set of photos. Two of the photos of the Bridge under construction. A third photo is an actual amateur photo taken by a tourist who crossed the Bridge on Fiesta Day. A fourth photo is a picture of the Bay Bridge as it was under construction with Yerba Buena Island in the middle.
Next to it is a framed small collection of postcards of the Bridge. On the upper left corner is a official postcard from the early 1950s. What is remarkable is how little weekday traffic there is on the bridge, especially leaving the City……. one car! Next to it is a post card from the 50th anniversary of the Bridge pedestrian day. The lower left corner is a good 60s postcard showing Fort Scott beneath the Bridge.
The next framed collection of memorabilia is I think one of the most delightful. In the lower left corner is an actual ticket to the 1937 Fiesta Day celebration. It sold for twenty-five cents. Above it is another actual amateur photo taken by tourist that day of people walking across the Bridge. I especially love the guy in the foreground wearing the Tom Mix outfit complete with ten gallon white hat, cowboy shirt and neckerchief. The coins are equally interesting. One is a touristy gift where you take a coin from the year of some important event and run it through a metal press. This impresses on the coin a picture and date of the event. On the back, now distorted, is the original coin with the date. So here we have two set of coins from both the 1937 opening day celebration and the 1987 Fiftieth Anniversary celebration. So, we have two 1937 coins and two 1987 coins. The envelope is an official 1937 US Postal cover commemorating the opening of the Bridge. What is especially interesting is if you turn the envelope over you will see it is double canceled on the same day : the front from the San Francisco post office and the back canceled at the Sausilito post office. This let's you know that the enveloped crossed the Bridge on its opening day.
Last we have a photo of the massive crowd in the Bridge during the 50th anniversary celebration. It is said that the weight of so many people on the Bridge actually flattened the slight curve engineered into the Bridge. What a contrast with the sparse crowd of the 1937 celebration!
To the right of that is framed collection of memorabilia about the USS California. Why, you may ask, is this included? As you may recall, there is a photo of the USS California sailing under the Bridge as it was being construction. Like the Bridge, the USS California was an important symbol of California. Battleships were symbols of national and state pride and achievement back then. The USS California had an important place in California identity (now forgotten) as well as national identity.
At the top is a 1923 postcard of the USS California. Below it is an official postal envelope celebrating the 15th anniversary of the commissioning of the California . It is postmarked 1936 from the California’s own shipboard post office. Below that is the Official stationary of the Admiral Commanding the Pacific Battle Fleet, also postmarked from the shipboard post office, 1929. The USS California was the official residence and seat of power for the Admiral. He was expected to personally lead the Fleet into battle from the California.
Last we have, in the center of the collection, framed, actual parts used in the construction of the Bridge. Top is an actual piece of the catwalk used during the construction of the bridge. This catwalk is seen in a couple of the photos in the collection. Turn it over and you see some of the orange paint used to paint the bridge splashed on the redwood. Below it is an original rivet used in constructing of the Bridge. I can vouch for the authenticity of these as I personally purchased them at the official Golden Gate Bridge gift shop many years ago. (I’m 70).
So, there you have it : a charming, interesting and informative collection of Golden Gate Bridge memorabilia that took years to put together. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire such a rare collection. It is great addition and conversation piece to anyone’s living room, office or library.