Coquina uit Saint Augustine before 1888

Edward Bierstadt made this photograph titled 'Coquina uit Saint Augustine' at some point in the nineteenth century. The image depicts a collection of shells. It suggests a natural history sample or perhaps a collection of curiosities, reflecting the 19th-century interest in scientific classification and exploration. Made in the United States, the photograph prompts questions about the cultural significance of collecting and displaying natural objects during this era. Was it intended as a souvenir for tourists visiting Saint Augustine, Florida? Was it a scientific study, a personal collection, or a reflection of the broader cultural fascination with the natural world and its classification? To fully understand this photograph, we might consult archives, historical societies, and museum collections to explore how such objects were presented and understood. This will help us uncover the social and institutional context of the time. The meaning of this photograph is contingent on its place within the scientific, economic, and cultural history of its time.