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The Old Stairway, San Gabriel Mission, San Gabriel, California, circa 1905

Subject
Churches
Card type
Lithograph
Date
c. 1915 (White Border)
Front of The Old Stairway, San Gabriel Mission, San Gabriel, California, circa 1905, c. 1915 lithograph postcard
Front
Back of The Old Stairway, San Gabriel Mission, San Gabriel, California, circa 1905, c. 1915 lithograph postcard
Back

About this postcard

A view of the worn brick and adobe stairway climbing the side of the old mission church at San Gabriel, with a bell tower above and a flowering tree (likely a coral tree) arching over the steps. Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, founded in 1771 by Father Junípero Serra, is one of the oldest of the California missions and its present church was begun in the early 1800s. The Detroit Photographic Co. issued this view as a color Phostint print in the early 20th century, when the missions were popular tourist subjects.

Postcard Details

Message

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PublisherDetroit Publishing Co.
COPR. DETROIT PHOTOGRAPHIC CO. 8606 THE OLD STAIRWAY, SAN GABRIEL MISSION, CALIFORNIA. --- POST CARD "PHOSTINT" TRADE MARK REG. U.S. PAT OFF MADE ONLY BY DETROIT PUBLISHING CO PLACE STAMP HERE THIS SPACE MAY BE USED FOR MESSAGE THIS SPACE FOR THE ADDRESS
Addressed to

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Postcard record

PublisherDetroit Publishing Co.
Series8606
ConditionGood
Place depictedSan Gabriel, CA, CA
PublisherDetroit Publishing Co., Detroit, MI
NotesWhite border; small chip/tear at the right edge; grainy color Phostint-style printing. No postmark. Divided-back Phostint card (Detroit Publishing Co.), white border, unused; pencil dealer mark "AFMD 10¢" at upper left.

Cite this card

The Old Stairway, San Gabriel Mission, San Gabriel, California, circa 1905, postcard, c. 1915. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/the-old-stairway-san-gabriel-mission-san-gabriel-california. Accessed October 24, 2026.