Has anyone encountered a GW Wilson where the photographer or his employee used an area of photographic paper with the watermark not eliminated?, In this case a cdv of Peterborough Cathedral's nave  "1862"  with the initials of Blanchet Freres and Kleber P1050039.JPG of Rives, France. Is it mad to consider this a rarity? We Canadians are prone to leaping to the best conclusion? Many thanks from Montreal, Quebec,Canada.  p s doing exhibition on Mr Wilson here at Atwater Library on June 22, 2017.

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  • Marcel -- Days later ,I'm stilling thinking 40! How long has this been going on? Seriously, when I finish hand-out, my I please

    have your address to send you a copy?



  • Edward McCann said:

    Many thanks for this valuable information, Marcel. Forty Thousand! I'm stunned, as my old dad would have said about me.

    Edward

  • Many thanks for this valuable information, Marcel. Forty Thousand! I'm stunned, as my old dad would have said about me.

    Edward

  • Hi Edward, I don't have a lot of images by GWW but has certainly seen a fair share of British and Australian cartes and cabinet photos with watermarked paper and have a number of examples in my collection (over 40 000 photos) but couldn't easily place my hand on examples as I have don't have them specifically categorised or identified. Cheers! Marcel, Brisbane, Australia

  • The Centre for Photographic Conservation 233 Stanstead Road London SE23 1HU will be happy to add it to our library for students and researchers

  • Thanks for adding to the chain of information. May I please have your address to send you a complimentary copy of my modest hand-out about Mr Wilson?

  • We have a number of images in The Centre's collection with watermarks, salt prints and albumen, but not a CDV we have always assumed it was because paper was not such a throw away commodity in those days.  Itinerate photographers would use every scrap but this wouldn't apply to GWW. Very interesting post, thank you. Angela Moor Conservation Administrator atThe CPC

  • Well, it pays off to hit all links -- I just saw your  Bentley BFK cdv. Commerce wins over artistry.

  • Hello Brett -- I was stunned when I saw the watermark.  Even on the floor line of interior of the cathedral it seems a reject print for a reputable man like GWW, rather than a for sale product. Your Bentley is a portrait? If so, that is revelation of the economics of the business of photography -- make everything bring in revenue.

    I hope to do a modest hand-out with my exhibition here. Please give me your address and I'll mail you a complimentary copy. Best, Ed.

  • Hi Ed,

    I have something similar from BW Bentley of Buxton, Derbyshire, England with an 1862 "watermark" that I have pondered on for years

    http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/%7Ebrett/photos/bw...

    http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/%7Ebrett/photos/bw...

    http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/%7Ebrett/photos/bw...

    Now I know what it's about, thank you. I had no idea what the initials were, but now I can make of the BFK & Co. This post of yours is hugely appreciated. I can't answer your question about its rarity, though. BW Bentley was a minor portrait photographer from Manchester and Buxton, who catered to the tourist trade, but produced few landscape CDVs.

    http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/%7Ebrett/photos/bw...

    Regards, Brett

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