Antique El Camino Real The Kings Highway Mission Bell Marking Guide Post Souvenir

An Early Antique El Camino Real ‘The Kings Highway’ Cast Bronze Mission Bell Marking Guide Post California Souvenir.  It was created to mark the restoration of the El Camino Real – “The Kings Highway" from San Diego through Los Angeles to San Francisco.  The path was originally created by the Catholic Missionaries as they traveled up and down the coast of California.  Marked on the base ‘Design Patented Aug 18, 1914 By Mrs. A. S. C. Forbes.’ The bell is embossed in raised letters, ‘1769 – 1915 El Camino Real.’  The Plaque reads, ‘El Camino Real San Diego - Los Angeles - San Francisco.’  And the outer rim of the base reads, ‘Mission Bell Guide Post Marking El Camino Real The Kings Highway.’

The Cast Bronze Mission Bell measures approx. 9-1/8” high by 2-7/8” diameter base.  Excellent patina from top to bottom.  Bell clapper works well and has a nice tone.  Looks like the brass upright was resoldered at one time at the base.  Overall Condition, commensurate with its age of 100+ years and its handling & care over that time, is between Good and Very Good.

El Camino Real (Spanish for The Royal Road, also known as The King's Highway) and sometimes associated with Calle Real refers to the historic 600-mile California Mission Trail, connecting the former Alta California's 21 missions (along with several support sites), 4 presidios, and several pueblos, stretching from Mission San Diego de Alcalá in San Diego in the south to Mission San Francisco Solano in Sonoma in the north.  In 1892, Anna Pitcher of Pasadena, California initiated an effort to preserve the as-yet uncommemorated route of Alta California's Camino Real, an effort adopted by the California Federation of Women's Clubs in 1902.  Modern El Camino Real was one of the first state highways in California.  Given the lack of standardized road signs at the time, it was decided to place distinctive bells along the route, hung on supports in the form of an 11-foot high shepherd's crook, also described as "a Franciscan walking stick." The first of 450 bells were unveiled on August 15, 1906, at the Plaza Church in the Pueblo near Olvera Street in Los Angeles.  And now you have the rest of the story!

Being offered here at a reasonable “Buy It Now” price, considering its offers yet today….. or simply ‘Make An Offer’!  All offers will be seriously considered!

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