David McGreevy's Blog (49)

Reposting this from a few years ago, I have an 1870s albumen photo by Mansell, and my colleague Thomas Harris has an 1846 Daguerreotype by Mayall of the same image, clearly an early rubbing of the Rosetta Stone with applied graphics. After years of searching we have yet to find any information about it. My albumen has pencil notations on the reverse that…

Hello, I am looking for information about this late1850's photo of a British Boy's School. What is that strange metal contraption on the stump? Any guesses most appreciated.…

This is a device that is new to me, I don't even know what to call it. 6 x 6" box, it has a concave mirror and slots to fit photos. Not at all like a Graphoscope. You position yourself behind the photo and view the enlarged image in the mirror. Rather clever, as you can see both the front and back of a CDV at the same time.

Does anyone know what this…

This is a recently acquired salt print, 'Col. Dickson, Royal Engineers' by Roger Fenton. It is mounted on the usual large 18 x 24" page. Rather than having the number printed in the title, it is hand written in ink on the obverse. Is this an early 'proof'? A later copy?…

I am looking for any information about the Photographer of this recently acquired albumen photo: Sir Henry Fletcher being served by mess waiter Robert. Seller says it's from an 1853 Album from the Musketry School at Hythe.

Curiously, The Grenadier Guards website is selling copies of this image, but listing the waiter or location as Windsor.…

I recently purchased this CDV, the identification said only  "British".

The back is blank. Can anyone help me figure out this scene?

Thanks, David…

I am looking for any information on this stereo view, a street telescope, View Saturn and Jupiter! No information on the back. I have no Idea about the origin, England, France, Italy?

Does anyone recognize this image or…

Can anyone help me identify this late 1850's Grenadier Guards albumen print? I am interested in finding out which battalion or regiment, and the location of this 'Guard House'.

Many…

Looking to identify this Officer. 6 x 4 inch albumen print with no ID.  Grenadier Guards? I think that's a cap with plumage, and a sword hilt.

Many thanks in advance,

David McGreevy…

I am looking to find the photographer of this image, a British cdv labeled 'The Widow's Mite'. It reminds me of Rejlander's genre scenes, but I have been unsuccessful in finding anything about it. No back mark. I have blurred out the…

Hello, I am seeking information about this leather case, marked Lock & Whitfield, 178 Regent Street. It looks like an average daguerreotype case, but the size is very large, and doesn't seem to correlate to known sizes.

The exterior is 18.3cm x 15.8cm. (7-1/8 x 6-1/4 in.)

The glass inside is 16.5 x 14 cm. (6-1/2 x 5-1/5 in.)

I know Lock and Whitfield…

Hello, I am looking for help in identifying this rather artistic looking man. Maull & Polyblank Albumen print. Circa 1855-8

I have searched the National Portrait Gallery, The Science Museum, The Getty, The Met collection, etc. , to no avail.

There doesn't seem to be a complete database  of these anywhere.. Does anyone know who this is?

Many Thanks,…

This is a French photo, but I believe may have British interest. I am looking for any information. Albumen print by Antoine Samuel Adam -Salomon, Sculptor in Paris. He was a rival of Nadar. 

This print was sold in New york, 1996, by the Lunn gallery, Ltd. As stated in their catalogue, 'Isabelle, May be the daughter of Franz Liszt'.  I have no idea if this is true, but…

I am seeking information about this albumen portrait. I believe this is Richard Chenevix Trench 1836-1861, one of the many children of Richard Chenevix Trench, Irish poet and Anglican Archbishop. The son tragically died at age 25. My main interest is the photographer. Does any member recognize a style or size that may lead to identify the photographer? The image is 19.5 x…

I recently purchased this stereoview, apparently made in the UK. It looks to be 1850s- early 1860s. I believe this may be a portrait of he great P. T. Barnum,  There is no written information on it. I do know that Barnum regularly travelled to England during his career. perhaps he meant this as a kind of advertising. His jaunty stance seems in keeping with other photos of…

Hello fellow British Photo History Members,  A very Happy Holidays and New Years to you all! I am seeking information about how to 'float' an albumen photograph off of it's mount. Here I have an early English of French photograph, 22 x 17cm, showing a great old tree, with a few young people, bottom left.

I think that it is either a varnished salt print, or an 1850s…

Hello, I am looking for information about this carbon print of Hill and Adams's Redding the Line. I understand that these carbon prints were made around 1916 by Jessie Brown Bertram. Would any member know where I can find more information about Bertram? Where these made to be sold commercially? Did she print other photographer's…

I have acquired a half stereo view, from the series "The Great Eastern in the Stereoscope", showing a scene onboard the great ship, after "The Explosion".  One of the funnels is clearly broken in half, and a gent in top hat is observing.

I assumed that this must be Brunel himself, viewing the destruction.

I also assumed that this was one of Robert Howlett's…

I am seeking any information about this albumen photograph: "The Confessional" Printed by Frith, "Goodman Phot.

"21 x 16.5 cm photo on a 37 x 29.5 cm mount.

I am assuming that this was published in "Gems of Photographic Art" by Frith.

My attempts to find a copy online have been fruitless. The George Eastman House and The Ransom Center apparently have…

Hello, I am looking for information on this Julia Margaret Cameron photo 'The Neapolitan' by JMC, 1866, depicting her cousin, May Princep. This is a CDV sized print, 8.5 x 6 cm, pasted to a paper mount, 21 x 16 cm. This image is not on a Cameron CDV mount, so apparently pasted into a private album.

Ford and Cox's "Complete Photographs" notes that Cameron made private…