Picture This: Fine, Vintage & Vernacular Photography
Thu, Mar 12, 2026 11:00AM EDT
Lot 61
Shell Chemical Company / Mekog. Industrial Photo Albums. The Netherlands & USA, ca. 1928–1960.
Estimate: $800 - $1,200
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $5 |
| $30 | $10 |
| $100 | $25 |
| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $200 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
Shell Chemical Company / Mekog. Industrial Photo Albums. The Netherlands & USA, ca. 1928–1960. Pair of oversized photo albums containing pasted-in black & white photographs documenting industrial development, manufacturing equipment, and construction sites at Shell Chemical in Los Angeles and Mekog, a now defunct Dutch fertilizer manufacturer established as a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell in 1928. -- The Mekog Album, dated October 24, 1958, contains high contrast, well printed photographs with hand-written captions of manufacturing equipment, facilities, control rooms, workers, and company events. Likely a gift commemorating 30 years of work from employee Maarten Voogd, from 1928–1958; possibly a portfolio of his contributions. Presumed to be signed by other employees. -- The other album shows images related to Shell Chemical Company, with images of employees, executives, architects/engineers, groundbreaking at construction sites, aerial views of sites in Los Angeles, oil trucks, company events, equipment, labs, and more. Some photos stamped verso. -- Together these make an excellent collection of mid-century industrial images.
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