This is an original albumen photograph by W.H. Jackson titled “Yellowstone Lake” circa 1871. The photograph was taken by William Henry Jackson on the 1871 Hayden Geological Survey, during which the Yellowstone region was explored and photographed for the first time. William Henry Jackson (1843-1922) was a member of the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871 which was an extensive exploration of the Yellowstone Region. It was Jackson's photographs of the expedition that led to Congress establishing Yellowstone as the first national park. This is likely one of if not the first photographic views of the Yellowstone Lake which was instrumental in establishing Yellowstone as the first U.S. National Park. W.H. Jackson’s larger Albumen silver prints are exceedingly rare with such examples showing the Western landscape selling for large prices such as the W.H. Jackson bound book of 76 Albertypes of Yellowstone sold by PBA Galleries in 2020 for $30,000, the Veta Pass photo that sold for $19,000 at a Swan Galleries sale, the Panorama of Leadville, Colorado that sold for $10,000 at the same Swan Galleries sale, the W.H. Jackson Mammoth Plate for $6,900 at Cowan’s Auction and the Williams Canon W.H. Jackson that sold at Heritage Auctions 2013 sale for $6,500. This photograph was taken during the U.S. Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories (Hayden Survey) and confirmed to be by W.H. Jackson when examining his other Yellowstone Lake photographs, this being taken when looking up the Southeast arm of Yellowstone Lake WHJ 1871 along with being marked Yellowstone Lake. In an original antique tiger strip oak frame and is signed on the back by previous collector, “Yellowstone Lake” Albuman, 1870’s – 1880’s mounted on the signed card backing W.H. Jackson unsigned. Looking up southeast arm of Yellowstone Lake oval around WHJ 1871.”. Truly an amazing piece of Yellowstone history and a very unusual large size with the frame being 18.5” by 20.5” and the visible art area being 9.5” by 12.5” with amazing detail and condition.