I recently came across a CDV album of portraits and topographical views. I bought it partly because I recognised one view to be of Hexham. After "my" conservator had removed the CDVs for cleaning, I was extremely pleased to learn that this view and 10 others carried an early backstamp of J. P. Gibson, Hexham. Some also carried a printed paper label, presumably also created by Gibson. I am sure that many members here are familiar with his name. His family had a chemist shop at Hexham Market Place, as shown in the Hexham view. A later version of the shop is now in the Science Museum, London.
Of the ten other Gibson views, six feature Dilston (four castle and grounds, two the bridge over Devil's Water), two Hexham Abbey (interior and exterior) and two Corbridge (town views).
I have done a little research since receiving the images earlier this week but have not managed to find other Gibson CDVs with the particular backstamp shown on mine. Based on the presence of some early 1860s-dated portraits and a couple of "W&D Downey, So. Shields" backstamps in the album, I would guess that "my" Gibson's date from the mid-1860s. That said, some "teaser text" for a book on Backhouse and Mounsey suggests that Gibson didn't start making topograpical views until around the 1880s.
Can anyone provide more information on Gibson and his early work? I attach images of the Hexham view and a far less commecial one of an apple tree in Dilston (perhaps the children are Gibson's or thiose of the Earl of Derwentwater).
I would be happy to share more images with anyone interested in researching the album further.
