Research: Hill and Adamson Carbon print, 'Redding the Line'

[David McGreevy]

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 images?

Thanks in advance,

David McGreevy

[David McGreevy]

Larry,

Thank you so much. A friend has just given me a copy of  Sun Pictures, Catalogue Eleven, What a great source of information! 

Best, David

[Larry J Schaaf]

David, You might find some useful information in a catalogue that I did for Hans Kraus, Sun Pictures Catalogue Eleven: St Andrews and Early Scottish Photography Including Hill & Adamson (2002).  It details a group of 182 prints by her, 166 carbon prints and 17 salt prints, all mounted uniformly and most captioined.  It also included a manuscript index and a manuscript text.  I discuss briefly her connections with the photographic and artistic world, including a personal comment by Peter Henry Emerson.  The Andrew Elliot book is also covered.  The catalogue was researched a long time ago but it is just possible that I have some additional notes leftover from then if you have any specific questions that I might help with, Larry

[David McGreevy]

Thanks, Roddy, That is exactly the information i was looking for.

Best, David

[Roddy Simpson]

In Special Collections, Glasgow University Library item Dougan Add 40 is a box of 50 prints each on a separate mount. The printed label inside the box reads:

“Photographs, Carbon prints from the original paper negatives by David Octavius Hill RSA. Printed by Jessie Bertram, 148 Rose Street, Edinburgh, 1916. Published by Andrew Elliot, 17 Princes Street, Edinburgh”.

This would indicate that Jessie Bertram was making the prints for Andrew Elliot (d 1921) to sell at his shop. I do not have a list of the contents of the box so cannot confirm if this is one of the images. There are carbon prints of this image in Special Collections, Glasgow University Library, Later Prints 211, which are by Frances Caird Inglis, who was a later occupant of Hill and Adamson’s studio at Rock House. These were among the items that Robert O Dougan acquired from Inglis widow and later sold to Glasgow University Library.