Earthquake Days: The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake & Fire in 3-D [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

David Burkhart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2005

Earthquake Days: The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake & Fire in 3-D. By David Burkhart. Stereo Views of San Francisco’s Great Earthquake and Fire. A full-color hardcover coffee-table book (220 pages; 10.25" x 13" x 1") from Faultline Books. 1906 San Francisco comes to life in this unique collection of over 100 original stereo photographs (viewer included) of the “City-By-The-Bay.” These haunting 3-D images were created before, during, and after the earthquake and fire that destroyed 508 city blocks and left 200,000 homeless. Accompanied by firsthand accounts, newspapers, maps, and lithographs, they re-create San Francisco’s great calamity and indomitable spirit with stunning realism. “Earthquake Days is one of those rare and special books—both smart and gorgeous. Burkhart's personal passion for stereophotography rings through these pages, coupled with his great sense of history and storytelling. The illustrations are lustrous, with stereo card views, bird’s-eye views, and fantastic full color reproductions of period newspapers, lithographs and more. This book is a tremendous contribution to the visual history of one of the world’s most famous disasters.” –Stephen Becker, Executive Director, California Historical Society “What a pleasure and more—what a surprise to find in this elegant book both a revitalization and a powerful retelling of the familiar drama of San Francisco’s destruction by earthquake and fire in 1906. Burkhart has gathered not only the most complete collection of photographs (many of them stereo views) and other illustrative revelations, he has created—page after page—a richly rewarding, enlightening experience for what should be his many, many readers. What a pleasure for them!” –J. S. Holliday, author of The World Rushed In and Rush for Riches “A beautiful book.” –Philip L. Fradkin, author of The Great Earthquake and Firestorms of 1906

Editorial Reviews

Review

A lavish scrapbook of prints, posters and vintage stereopticon images, seen through a 3-D viewer that is included. -- Jonathan Kirsch, Los Angeles Times Book Review, April 16, 2006

A truly unforgettable visual presentation. -- Midwest Book Review, March 2006

An absorbing and attractive coffee-table book. For straight history, readers might prefer Winchester, but this is an excellent visual companion. -- Edwin B. Burgess, Library Journal, January 15, 2006

Brings the reality of the events of 1906 to life. -- Sara Peyton, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, April 16, 2006

Historian Burkhart, an ardent collector of period stereoscopic images, has put together an eye-catching coffee-table chronicle. Remarkable stereo pictures. -- Yale Alumni Magazine, January/February 2006

Richly detailed. Dramatic illustrations/maps. A better and bigger selection of 1906 earthquake views than even many collectors have ever seen. -- John Dennis, Stereo World, January/February 2006

Richly-illustrated. "Must See 3-D" for the 3-D collector and anyone interested in the history of the earthquake. Image quality/clarity outstanding. -- 3-D Review, January 2006

The three-dimensional viewer is a clever addition to a book that features a multitude of wonderful, historic photos. Beautiful layout. -- Kathleen Grant Geib, Oakland Tribune, December 22, 2005

Timely. The story is told by the author in chilling detail, but it is the pictures that cast the spell. -- Rainbo Reviews, January 2006

Viewing the scenes through the glasses is enthralling, viscerally taking the reader back to the early 20th century. -- Book News, May 2006

From the Publisher

1906 San Francisco comes to life in this unique collection of over 100 original stereo photographs (a free 3-D viewer is included with every new book) of the "City by the Bay." These haunting 3-D images were created before, during, and after the earthquake and fire that destroyed 508 city blocks and left 200,000 homeless. Accompanied by firsthand accounts, newspapers, maps, and lithographs, they re-create San Francisco's great calamity and indomitable spirit with stunning realism.

What the experts are saying about this award-winning new coffee-table book:

"Earthquake Days is one of those rare and special books--both smart and gorgeous. Burkhart's personal passion for stereophotography rings through these pages, coupled with his great sense of history and storytelling. The illustrations are lustrous, with stereo card views, bird's-eye views, and fantastic full color reproductions of period newspapers, lithographs and more. This book is a tremendous contribution to the visual history of one of the world's most famous disasters."
--Stephen Becker, Executive Director, California Historical Society

"What a pleasure and more--what a surprise to find in this elegant book both a revitalization and a powerful retelling of the familiar drama of San Francisco's destruction by earthquake and fire in 1906. Burkhart has gathered not only the most complete collection of photographs (many of them stereo views) and other illustrative revelations, he has created--page after page--a richly rewarding, enlightening experience for what should be his many, many readers. What a pleasure for them!"
--J.S. Holliday, author of The World Rushed In and Rush for Riches

"A beautiful book."
--Philip L. Fradkin, author of The Great Earthquake and Firestorms of 1906

PLEASE NOTE: EVERY NEW COPY OF EARTHQUAKE DAYS COMES WITH A FREE 3-D VIEWER! IF YOU ARE PURCHASING A USED COPY, CHECK WITH THE SELLER BEFORE PLACING YOUR ORDER.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 220 pages
• Publisher: Faultline Books (December 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977330567
• ISBN-13: 978-0977330560
• Product Dimensions: 13 x 10.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,114,253 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unusual look at a famous disaster, February 17, 2006

By 

Edwin B. Burgess "KS librarian" (Leavenworth, KS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Earthquake Days: The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake & Fire in 3-D (Hardcover)

The author is a regional historian, musician, and brewer, who has brought together an absorbing collection of stereoscopic photographs of the disaster, and combined them with largely contemporary writings to produce a very attractive coffee-table book. The photographs are generally displayed two ways, in large format as an eye-viewable image, and a smaller stereoscopic version below. The second version is to be viewed through a set of glasses, included with the book, and stereoscopic view brings out an astonishing amount of detail, mightily improving on both the depth and clarity of the flat image. An introductory chapter describes the development of stereoscopy and the roles of the major promoters of the form. The author has brought together an impressive collection of images and commentary. For straight history, readers might prefer The Crack in the Edge of the World, by Simon Winchester but this is an excellent visual companion that enthusiasts either of the disaster or of the medium will want.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable 3-D Pictures Bring 1906 Earthquake To Life, January 1, 2006

By 

Howard J. Gidez - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Earthquake Days: The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake & Fire in 3-D (Hardcover)

Three important elements effectively come together to make this beautiful book unique:
1. Rare stereo photographs of landmark structures, like City Hall and The Crocker mansion, reproduced to view with 3-D glasses that are included, let you bear witness to the actual devastation.
2. Newspaper accounts at the time and personal recollections let you hear what actually happened. Herbert Hamrol's recently shared reminiscence of when he was just three years old is touching.
3. And lastly, the backstories of universally known figures like Enrico Caruso, and locally recognized officials like the then Commander of the Presideo, General Frederick Funston, and Mayor Eugene Schmitz draw us closer to the feelings and heroic actions of those who survived.
All of us who love San Francisco will cherish this book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An exceptional pictorial of the 1906 earthquake, December 22, 2005

By 

Candi J. Nelson (Sebastopol, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Earthquake Days: The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake & Fire in 3-D (Hardcover)

I've spent hours looking at the photos in Mr. Burkhart's book. They tell a story no words could ever tell, and cover each page of the book's 220 pages. Wow!! That's a lot of photographs. I was amazed!! I, also, really appreciated the 3-D feature which allowed me to see most of the photos in greater depth. Earthquake Days is a unique and brilliantly assembled book with the added bonus of being interactive. I believe it would appeal to children as much as it would adults.

Mr. Burkhart did a first rate job of compiling the photographs and telling the story of Earthquake Days. It is a must see book!