Antique Seattle Waterfront Skyline Postcard Smith Tower Elliott Bay c1915 RPPC For Sale

Antique Seattle Washington Waterfront Skyline Postcard — c.1914–1916

Original panoramic photographic postcard view of the Seattle waterfront along Elliott Bay, featuring an early sailboat in the harbor and the newly completed Smith Tower rising prominently above the skyline.

The presence of Smith Tower — finished in 1914 and the tallest building west of the Mississippi at the time — allows this image to be closely dated to the mid-1910s during Seattle’s rapid maritime and commercial expansion. The scene captures Seattle during the Golden Age of travel when visitors arrived by ship and purchased photographic panoramas as souvenirs.

This long-format “letterbox” panoramic style was especially popular in major port cities and is now highly sought after by Seattle history collectors, Pacific Northwest collectors, and maritime enthusiasts.

Notable features

• Clear view of Smith Tower

• Working Elliott Bay harbor scene

• Sailboat and waterfront docks visible

• Early commercial skyline architecture

• True photographic print (not lithograph)

• Unused reverse (souvenir view)

Historical context

The image shows Seattle’s central waterfront before later redevelopment, when shipping, timber, and passenger steamships defined the city’s economy. Panoramic souvenir photographs like this were commonly sold to travelers arriving at the port or rail depot.

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Condition

Good antique condition consistent with age:

• Corner rounding and edge wear

• Minor handling marks on reverse

• No major creases or tears

Please review photos carefully for exact condition.

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Item Specifics

• Type: Real Photo Postcard (RPPC) / Photographic view

• Era: Divided Back Golden Age (c.1914–1916)

• City: Seattle

• State: Washington

• Subject: Elliott Bay Waterfront

• Landmark: Smith Tower

• Theme: Cityscape / Maritime / Architecture

• Size: Panoramic format