Mahalski operated a photographic business at various addresses in York for more than 40 years. I am preparing an article about him and I am seeking examples of his work primarily as sources of information about the style and range of his work. Like other photographers of the period he produced CDVs in his Portrait Rooms but produced a variety of other formats. He advertised as a 'Military and General Photographer' and undertook to photograph 'Groups, Wedding and Garden Parties ... at the shortest notice'. Examples of such work would be of particular interest.
I would be interested in reproducing one or two striking examples of his work in the article as well as the printed backs of some CDVs. Any assistance in this project will be gratefully received and duly acknowledged in the article.
Comments
Here is a 9th plate ambrotype of Caroline Bentley (Nee Whitehead by Mahalski.
Further to Julian's post if anyone would like a PDF copy please email: PhotoHistorian@rps.org
Anyone interested in knowing more about Augustus Mahalski can consult the published article:
Julian Holland, 'Augustus Mahalski (1831-1900): Photographic artist of York', The PhotoHistorian, no. 190 (Summer 2021), pp. 5-17.
(I am now in contact with Nicolas Jouault privately.)
Hello I am currently researching the Polish refugees who arrived in Liverpool on the 4th March 1851, Mahalski is listed as Machalski August with the 260 others (mostly Polish) who were part of the Polish legion which fought under General Joseph Wysocki. They spent some 18 months in Turkey before boarding the "Arpia" from Constantinople to Liverpool. There the government attempted to persuade them to continue on to America, offering free passage and a small sum of money, only some 40 carried onto America, the others found places around the north of England, they were supported by Stanislaw Worcell (a Polish exile of the 1830 Uprising) and members of the Chartisit party which were allies of the Polish exiles in England.His family tree is on ancestry with a picture of himself. I have done a blog on Konstantine Kumpikiewicz 1812-1883 who spent the end of his years in York and is buried there, I thought he was the only exile in York, I now know other wise, as one or two others from 1851 settled around York.I hope to do a blog on the meetings that took place around the 1851 arrival.
Nick in Jersey
The only useful lead from the archive reference was that there appears to be a grand-daughter (I guess) and I wondered whether she might have photographs ... but you may have tried that already. There is someone of that (quite unusual name) who is an academic, I think, so may be contactable.
Thanks, Anne - I have done a fairly thorough internet search. And I have a pretty a good coverage of Mahalski's biography. What would be useful now is more examples of Mahaski's production, especially different formats (other than CDVs) and out-door photos if any are known. I am interested in such photos as evidence, as well as the possibility of reproducing striking examples in the article.
Hi, Julian - I'm assuming you're aware of this archive holding in York https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/78dc96cc-e753-3a36-a.... It mentions a daughter, so I don't know if there are descendants around or whether York Camera Club (or similar) could help - there's an article about him here https://framedlives.wordpress.com/the-unfortunate-mr-mahalski/. With usual caveats/apologies if this is coals to Newcastle.