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Photographs

Our collection of photographs brings to light over a century of photography produced by both professionals and amateurs. Explore photography as an artistic practice as well as a valuable tool in medicine, experimental science and industry.

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Thompson's Revolver Camera

Thompson's Revolver Camera

1862
Photographer's 'Birdie'

Photographer's 'Birdie'

circa 1920
Daguerreotype of Thomas Birch Freeman (1809-1890)

Daguerreotype of Thomas Birch Freeman (1809-1890)

1843-1856
Miniature fan with 'Tom thumb' photographs

Miniature fan with 'Tom thumb' photographs

circa 1863
Daguerreotype of a woman by Antoine Claudet

Daguerreotype of a woman by Antoine Claudet

1840s
Daguerreotype In Glass Hanging Frame

Daguerreotype In Glass Hanging Frame

1840–1868
Brooch with two collodion positive portraits

Brooch with two collodion positive portraits

1854-1869
Memorial brooch with photograph

Memorial brooch with photograph

circa 1880
Katie Reade

Katie Reade

1868
Tea plate decorated with photograph of a boy

Tea plate decorated with photograph of a boy

circa 1890
90x97mm dark brown union case by S. Peck (Trade Paper on back says 'S Peck's Patent Feb 5th 1856 - H. Halverson's patent Aug 7th 1855 - assigned to S. Peck'). Die cast by H. W. Hayden, from picture by Sir Thomas Lawrence 'The Calmady Children'. Shows two young girls close up in a field. Back is mostly plain with grape design in centre and leaf design in four corners. Lined with purple plush with formal motif. Oval gilt patterned matt. Pinchbeck frame. 60x70mm collodion positive by J. TImms, 31 High Holborn, London. Three quarter young gentleman seated almost full face. Some tinting. Nice trade card backing picture.

Rectangular Union Case by S Peck 'The Calmady Children'

circa 1853
Oval convex on copper 60x48mm; sepia bust of heavily bearded man.

Vitro Enamel by A L Henderson

1870
Hand coloured daguerreotype in ormulu frame of girl with doll. Kilburn, 234 Regent Street.

Girl With Doll

1840-1850
Ivory letter opener in form of a cricket bat with a Stanhope lens in the handle with six photographs by Mckee of Dublin, 'The Town from Weargall Hill', 'St. Joseph's Chapel', 'St John's Church', 'The Pilgrim's inn', 'The Abbott's Kitchen and 'the abbey'. Entitled 'A Memory of Glastonbury'.

Letter opener with Stanhope lens

Cased daguerreotype. Image of a young girl leaning against a leather chair. Hand tinted. Maroon case with plush interior and gold, oval mount. Made by Mr. Kilburn, 222 Regent Street.

Girl Leaning Against Chair

1840-1850
80x115mm black rectangular union case. Maker John Smith (check card). Trade paper inside says 'Improved Patent Union Case' Formal design front and back. Diamond shaped pattern in centre. Plain red plush lining. Plain oblong gilt mat with rounded top. Patterned pinchbeck frame. Contains beautifully tinted carte-de-visite by J. Hawke, 53 Union Street, Stonehouse, Devon. Portrait of lady standing in crinoline, dress in front of painted backdrop.

Oblong Union Case, Possibly For Ferrotypes

circa 1860
A carbon print entitled 'A Derelict Moorland Farm, Haworth, Emily Bronte's 'Wuthering Heights'', by Alexander Keighley, signed, c 1930. Exhibition label on reverse dated 1931-1932.

A Derelict Moorland Farm, Haworth, Emily Bronte's 'Wuthering Heights'

1931
'Mariquita' by Henry Grant, 1863, published by Emily Faithful; narrative poem; frontispiece is pasted in photograph of a painting or lithograph; red morocco with gilt title and water lily design (by John Leighton); one of 186 books illustrated with original photographs, covering the period 1854-1895

'Mariquita' by Henry Grant

1863
Photograph of a figure in garden in Pune, titled 'Poona', by Samuel Bourne, 1860s.

Photograph of a figure in a garden by Samuel Bourne

1860
Octagonal dark brown union case decorated on both sides with the scene 'General Marion Sharing Yams With British Officer'. Made by Littlefield Parsons and Co. (trade paper inside case). Lined with purple plush with floral motif. Oval gilt pinchbeck frame with waffled design, no glass. Name on mat Holes Booth and Haydens pat Oct 1855. Collodion positive portrait two children, a girl and boy. The girl has ringlets and is holding flowers, which have been coloured. The boy has a lace collar. Both full face.

Union Case 'General Marion Sharing Yams With British Officer'

circa 1860
Kodak advertising poster: 'Take a Kodak with You'. Designed by George Walton c. 1905. Kodak girl on the beach.

Take a Kodak with You

circa 1905
Photographically illustrated book, 'The Poetical Works of Sir Walter Scott with Fine Illustrations'; blue leather binding with gilt decoration, full board, with albumen prints pasted in. One of 186 books illustrated with original photographs, covering the period 1854-1895.

'The Poetical Works of Sir Walter Scott with Fine Illustrations'

1866
Photograph of mountains by Samuel Bourne, titled 'Snowy Peaks from the Hamta Pass-Spiti', 1860s.

Photograph of mountains by Samuel Bourne

1860
100x125mm dark brown rectangular union case same as 1990-5036/UC01, UC02 and UC14. Exterior design has a central scene showing people dancing with a man playing a fiddle on the left and a decorative border of flowers, bread and corn. No picture.

Union Case 'The Country Dance' Manufactured by S. Peck and Company

circa 1856
Ambrotype. Woman and dog. Hand painted.

Woman and Dog

circa 1850
Ferrotype portrait of a young woman, hair pulled back, wearing a lace collar, some tinting on face. Mounted on pale blue card with gold flower pattern, with oval frame in centre. On the back is printed 'From the Photographic Studios of S. D. Kruger, 139, Park Road, Liverpool.'

Ferrotype portrait in paper frame

100x122mm black rectangular union case. 'The Washington Monument, Richmond, VA.' by S Peck & Co. Die-engraver F. Goll. Trade paper inside. Design only on one side. Lined with dark red plush with formal motif. Plain oval gilt mat and patterned pinchbeck frame. No frame.

Rectangular Union Case 'The Washington Monument, Richmond VA', by S Peck

circa 1858
Carte de visite of Queen Victoria, made by John G. Murdoch, publisher, London, Edinburgh & Glasgow, by kind permission of Messrs. W. & D. Downey, London.

Carte de visite of Queen Victoria

85x100mm red Morocco leather case with two latches. Lined with plain red plush. Rectangular gilt mat with domed top. Bound but not framed. 58x70mm daguerreotype three quarter length portrait of elderly lady seated with book. Wearing white poke bonnet. Fully tinted with gilt on book. Slight tarnishing along bottom edge.

Daguerreotype In Red Morocco Case by American Daguerreotype Institution

132x162mm red Morocco leather case with two latches. Lined with plain red plush. Rectangular gilt mat with domed top. Picture bound but not framed. (One latch broken). 85x115mm daguerreotype full length portrait of mother with her four daughters. One sitting on her knees, the other three standing. Fully tinted. Some tarnishing along bottom edge.

Daguerreotype In Red Morocco Case by Mayall

The Patent Revolving Album 9. Walnut carte-de-visite automatic viewer holding 26 cartes-de-visite in 13 holders, on walnut cradle with carved legs. Key in bottom.

The Patent Revolving Album 9. Walnut carte-de-visite automatic viewer holding 26 cartes-de-visite in 13 holders

1875-1885
93x120mm Morocco hanging frame with single ring. Plain oval gilt mat with waffled pinchbeck frame edged with gold leaf. Lacquer back. 94x70mm two white dogs, one seated, other laying on a table.

Collodion Positive in Hanging Frame

For whole plate pictures; black composition; formal design on reverse. Exterior design shows a rowing boat with many men rowing and preparing to land with one man standing proudly at the helm with a flag flying behind. Possibly commemorating a discovery of land or naval battle.

Union Case With 'Washington Crossing The Delaware' Motif

Cabinet portrait of Queen Victoria by Bassano, London, 1887. Presentation card by Tonks, Family Grocer, Scarborough, printed reverse

Cabinet portrait of Queen Victoria by Bassano

1887
Carte de visite of a still life showing a book with a bookmark, a compass, and a pair of spectacles.

Carte de visite of a book, compass and spectacles

Book-type case with ornate gilt clasp. Wooden frame, spine covered with black leather. Front and back papier-mache, coated in black lacquer. Front has painted flowers and inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Gold leaf pattern front and back. Lined with red plush with bird and leaf motif. Gold leaf edging. Ornately patterned rectangular gilt mat with fluted edges. Patterned pinchbeck frame. Lacquer back. Case contains Collodion Positive three quarter length, full face, portrait of a young gentleman. Seated with arm resting on table. Wearing checked suit. Tinted. Gilt on watch chain.

Collodion Positive in Morocco Book-type Case

Ferrotype group portrait of the Hughes and Nelson families Captain Hughes drowned when the SS 'Leonowi' was lost round the Cape of Good Hope, c. 1887.

Uncased Ferrotype

circa 1887
110x140mm red Morocco leather case embossed one side with formal design. Very good condition. Back stamped 'Simonton and Millard, Dublin Photogrpahic Institution, 39 Lower Sackville St'. Two latches. Lined with crimson plush with formal motif. Inside edged with gold leaf pattern. Picture out of case. Contains portrait of a man with elbows on table and finger to temple.

Collodion Positive in Red Morocco Leather Case

Ambrotype of a seated man with gold watch chain, with beveled gilded reverse painted passe-partout, in brown wooden frame.

Framed photograph of seated man

85x100mm black Morocco leather book-type case. Front inlaid with mother-of-pearl and gold leaf in bouquet of flowers design. Gold leaf in scrolls around edges. Black lacquered with gold leaf scrolls. Lined with patterned red plush and gold leaf pattern around inside edge. Pinchbeck frame. 53x65mm daguerreotype three quarter length portrait in profile of young woman seated by table. Face and hands tinted pink.

Daguerreotype In Black Lacquered Book-Type Case

circa 1845
Head and shoulders portrait photograph of a woman, coated on embossed aluminium, backed with plaster of Paris, on a free standing wooden frame, c 1930. (7"x9 1/2")

Photograph of a woman on embossed aluminium, c 1930

1925-1935
Linen tape measure in turned bone cylinder, with ivory spool; pierced for Stanhope lens.

Centimetre tape measure with aperture for microphotograph

Carte de visite of Charles Dickens, Mason and Co., 28 Old Bond Street, London, published by Marion & Co., London. Marked in pencil on the back 'C. Dickens AD 1890 from J Ruskin Collection'.

Carte de visite of Charles Dickens

110x140mm red Morocco leather case with tolled lined front. Single press-in latch. Lined with plain red plush. Plain rectangular gilt mat with rounded top. No frame. Velvet back. Case stamped in gold at back 'Clarkington's Photo. Estab. Sponsalia Regent St'. 80x105mm portrait of elderly lady seated with arm resting on table. Nicely tinted.

Collodion Positive in Red Morocco Leather Case by Clarkington's

122x100mm dark brown union case 'The Gypsy Fortune Teller' by A. P. Critchlow and Company. Trade paper inside. Design both sides. Lined with purple plush with formal design in centre. No mat or frame. No picture.

Rectangular Union Case 'The Gypsy Fortune Teller', A P Critchlow

circa 1857
125x100mm dark brown rectangular union case by Littlefield, Parsons and Company. Centre design of case similar to 1990-5036/UC03. Interior houses a trade paper mounted within oval gilt matt frame with shield design in four corners edged with leaves and surmounted with star a Leaf design around edges. Purple plush lining with formal design. No picture. Exterior design shows an intricate scene with a man kneeling behind a low table with two noblemen standing to the right and a horse behind.

Rectangular Union Case by Littlefield, Parsons and Company

65x80mm ferrotype of family group seated beach. Mother and father with three children, holding buckets and spades.

Uncased Ferrotype

circa 1910
Moulded thermoplastic Union Case decorated with design of man and womans sat at table (playing chess); with purple plush lining. Contains ambrotype portrait of woman.

Union Case with portrait of woman

1860-1870
Folding wooden Carte-de-Visite holder, white metal hinges and clasps, white metal shield on front; c 1865; five frames each containing a portrait carte-de-visite.

Folding Wooden Carte de Visite Holder

1860-1870
Ambrotype of woman in leather and gilt case with purple velvet inlay.

Ambrotype of woman in leather and gilt case