Slide Archive of a Southern California Realtor

[San Diego, California]: n.p., 1972. Very good.. Before Zillow, Trulia, and Redfin: a swank archive of images from the Sessions Realty firm of La Mesa, California in the early 1970s. Consisting of hundreds of sales display slides (and negatives) of exteriors and interiors from San Diego-area homes (accompanied by more than 3 dozen descriptive forms listing home amenities, prices, descriptions, etc.), these images were undoubtedly used for marketing to prospective buyers. Shag carpet, macrame, orange and brown color palettes, rec rooms, bold wallpapers, Formica, wood paneling, and other Better Homes and Gardens details much in evidence — all exhibiting a strong Southern California flair. A dense, thorough, and vibrant assembly of period design and architecture offering a rich record of residential real estate in a significantly active market. And while the unknown photographer(s?) certainly wanted to simply document the houses, what emerges is a rather hauntingly mundane narrative where no real action takes place but yet something nevertheless lingers — like crime scene photographs, but without the crime. Vernacular Ruscha. 3 dust-proof binders measuring 12'' x 10.5''. Approximately 1300 color slides in new archival pages, with roughly 250 additional color film negatives, and 37 individual manuscript real estate listing forms. Slides approximately 2" square; negatives approximately 1 1/4" square. Slides with mild to moderate dusting, some with residue from previous rubber band wrappings, most with relevant ink notations to margins. Negatives fine, in glassine storage wrappers.