Thompson & Thompson is another one of those mysterious Yellowstone publishers that seems to be indirectly connected to many other publishers. However with no official record of their operations, the relationship is unclear. In this case Thompson & Thompson operated in Ottawa, Kansas, home for many years to the hugely successful Underwood & Underwood company. Is there a connection? Most likely. But why is a photo by T. W. Ingersoll, complete with his title strip, so prominently displayed? To further complicate matters, this photo was almost certainly originally shot by Charles Bierstadt, who did have a relationship with both Ingersoll and Underwood. My best guess is that the original photo by Bierstadt was sold by him to both Ingersoll and Underwood. Somehow the Underwood photo was then resold (or pirated) to a local company in Underwood’s hometown of Ottawa, Kansas and Voila! We get the view you see below. Until more information surfaces about this small Kansas publisher, the true facts will remain a mystery.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. 1222 FAIRIES' WELL OR PUNCH BOWL.