The series consists of approximately 570 stereographic (stereoscopic) photographs on card.
Larrigan is the photographer for the majority of the collection. His cards are labelled one of two sets of captions:
• “Geo. H. Larrigan, Photographer, Victoria, B.C. Sea and land views of Vancouver Island, B.C.”
• “Photographed and issued by Geo. H. Larrigan, 55 [later 41] Belleville Street, Victoria, B.C. Pictures of strange and familiar places not far from Victoria & views of canyons and water courses close to the E. & N. Railroad” with “Photographed and finished expressly for Herbert E. Beckwith by George Henry Larrigan, Victoria, Vancouver Island” printed on the verso.
Some have additional captions written on the verso in ink. The images depict Victoria landscapes, buildings, landmarks, shipyards and boats, wildlife, and events as well as Indigenous communities, portraits, canoes, totem poles, and housing. Also depicted are travels to Hawaii in 1902 and the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
Additional stereographs depicting locations in Victoria, across B.C. and Canada, and in the United States, Mexico, Europe, Australia, and Japan were produced by the following photographers and/or publishers. Some have been hand coloured and have informative text printed on the verso.
• R. [Richard] Maynard, Victoria, B.C.
• Alfred S. Campbell, Elizabeth, N.J.
• B.W. Kilburn, Littleton, N.H.
• Erdman & Schanz, Bedford Hill, London
• European and American Views
• Geo. [George] Barker
• James M. Davis, New York, St. Louis, Liverpool, Toronto, Sydney
• Jas. [James] Esson, Preston, O.N.
• Stohmeyer and Wyman, New York
• Underwood & Underwood, New York. London, Toronto, Ottawa
• Works and Studios, Arlington N.J, Littleton, RH., Washington DC
Stereographs were originally housed in a wooden box.