A harmonious design using nature as its theme
I’ve been collecting cartes-de-visite photographs for some years now. These are small photographic images from the second half of the 19th century and are a window on the world of Victorian society.
My main interests, however, are the names and studios of the photographers who produced these images. Therefore I have collected data from all over Britain relating to 19th century photographers and set them out in alphabetical order, with open-ended dates where known. Trade directories are my main source for these dates, as is census material.
The backs of c-d-vs are minor works of art in their own right. They show name, address and services offered by the studio and can be invaluable if there was a photographer in your family tree, if you need to date an old family photo or if you just appreciate graphic design. All the names recorded in the main lists relate to c-d-v photos in my collection.
I hope to add more of these images, backs and fronts, in the course of time and hope you will venture into the world of our 19th century ancestors, when the photographer said ‘Watch the birdie’.
Christine Hibbert
Examples of photographers trade cards
I think it is a wonderful blog, very clear and easy to find your way around the information. It’s very generous of you to share the information and help solve queries.
I was pleased to find A. James – Louth on your site. The photograph that I have has A. James signature on bottom left of the card as well as Ramsgate House Louth ( the corner of the photo is missing so I am not sure if it may have had something else after Louth) Then in very small lettering it says … the Peoples Photographer. What year would you date this card?
The lettering is in gold and the cardboard is black with black border.
The other card has R.R. Livermore Photographer 4 Gas Street Kettering. Are you able to date this photographers works.
One last photo I have was taken by E.R. Dixon, 194 High St., Lincoln … it is a Post Card with the KLTD stamp in right hand corner in a square box with rounded corners. Do you know when this may have been taken.
Thank you kindly, Heather
Dear Heather,
in reply to your query, I have unearthed the following info. for A. James, Ramsgate House, Louth. He was operating from that address from at least 1892 until 1900 (and possibly beyond but I have no further directories to consult after this date). Mr James also had a photographic studio, or business, at Mablethorpe from c1896-1900-.
I was disappointed not to find any references to R R Livemore in the Northants directories, nor for E R Dixon in the Lincs ones. However, I suspect that E R Dixon was probably operational post 1900, as the postcards,as you describe, were generally late 19th/ early 20th century.
Sorry I could not be of more help this time but if more details turn up I will contact you again.
Kind Regards
Christine H.
My great grandfather was JC Dinham of Torquay. He had a photographic studio employing about 19 people at 34 Union Street. My grandfather and greatuncle took over the business. The business started about 1881.
I have inherited a collection of their photographs including many of royalty inspecting the fleet at Torpoint.
Is this of interest to anyone?
I am so interested to see your posting Gordon. I came upon it as I am researching my family history and have a photograph taken by your grandfather of some ancestors, whose names I don’t know. The photo has a notation on the back saying ‘roughly 1867′ but it must be later going on what you have said about when the business was started.
I would love to know who these people are. The photo ended up in South Africa where it came into my father’s possession. I have no way of knowing if the family in the photo emigrated or whether they sent the photo to family members who did. Do you have any idea what may have happened to the appointment book used by the studio? I’d be happy to send you a scan of the photo if you are interested and I have your email address.
Hello, I have a wonderful photo of two people on camels along with Egyptian guides, posing on front of the Sphinx and a pyramid. J.C. Dinham and Torquay are printed on the matting outside of the photo. Do you have any information on such a photo? Thank you.
Jill Buhler
Port Townsend, Washington
USA
Jill, How intriguing – I’d love to see a ‘copy’ of the photo. I’ll try to find some info for you.
QVictoria
Hello from Canada!
What a wonderful blog – thank you so much for sharing your information. I think it’s very important that we (photo collectors, researchers) be willing to share our information, because if we don’t, that information could be lost once we’re gone. I’m attempting to construct a similar blog for Ontario, but concentrating on Sarnia-Lambton. Once I have it going, I’ll send you a link. I also have a group on Flickr.com called The Flip Side, dedicated to gathering photographer information from around the world.
Would you be interested in scans from Canada? If so, I have many I can send you. Also, would you accept scans from larger format photos, or do you want to concentrate on CDV’s? Oh, and BTW, the dates for your photo by Farmer Bros. of Hamilton, ON are 1877-1896.
Thanks again,
John.
Hi Heather:
You’re welcome, I’m glad to info. was useful. I have the dates for your photo by Lemaitre, J.H. & Co. – 1877-1891.
Hi Heather:
Here is the promised link to my new blog – still doesn’t have a great deal on it yet, but it will give you an idea. I hope you visit and leave a comment.
John.
Hi Heather:
Here is the promised link to my new blog – still doesn’t have a great deal on it yet, but it will give you an idea. I hope you visit and leave a comment.
http://ontariophotosandphotographers.blogspot.com/
John.
Hi John, really enjoyed the new blog. Such a fascinating story told with different source material. I look forward to taking a longer look in the near future and will provide a link from my blog. QVictoria
I note you have listed a Mr Moss, from West Maitland, Australia, among your Victorian photographers. he apparently provided 15 photos of the funeral of the captain of the 1888 British & Irish Lions captain Rob Seddon to his grieving team mates after Seddon was unfortunately drowned on the Hunter River in a boating accident. Do any of these photos still exist? or are there any other surviving images from Moss and this era?
Dear Christine,
I was searching for info on an ancestor, who I had forgotten was a photographer, and came across your site. As others have said, what a wonderful site.
The man in question was Jonathan Whittaker, Oswaldtwistle, and I wonder what images you have, as you say the reverse of cdv s were art in themselves.
Thanking you,
Becky
Manchester, UK
Henry ( Harry ) Mann Leicester:
Studio Details : Mann, Henry (Harry) – Photographer
48 Church Gate Leicester Leicestershire England
1891 – 1892
This is all the info that I have on my ancestor – does anyone know how I can find out more please??
Gill, it sounds obvious but I exopect you’ve looked the 19th century censuses for Leicester. Of course, he may have set up a photographic business elsewhere but if he did, you might only come across him by chance. Sorry I can’t be of more help. Christine Hibbert
Dear Christine Hibbert
I have a small Victorian photograph which I hope you can help me to positively identify (if records still exist). The figure is that of a boy, perhaps fourteen or fifteen, who is either my grandfather or his nephew. Grandfather was born at Sowton in 1856 and came to New Zealand in 1876 on the ‘Dilharee’. He later sponsored his nephew.
Details on the back of the phoptograph:
No. 27632
ER. Denney and Co
Albion Studios
43, St Sidwells
Exeter (and Okehampton)
I understand you are more interested in Victorian calling cards, nature scenes, etc, but if you would like a copy of this photograph, I’m happy to e-mail you one. I will need your e-mail address.
With all warm wishes
David Howard
i’ve heard of these, but never seen one in person. but i know that contemporary photogs are beginning to produce their own and trade them. sound like a lot of fun
keep up the good blog,
Dallas Photographer Les Wollam
It’s interesting to note that somewhere cartes de visite are once again in production. They say there’s nothing new under the sun. The c-d-v was a phenomenally successful medium in its day, would be good to see what modern photographers can come up with.
Hi , I purchased a CDV from Ebay of a statue/bust of Josiah Wedgwood. The photographer was a F R Ryles from Burslem who had his shop very close to the Etruria factory that the Wedgwood firm was using. I expect that he was selling his images to folk who were visiting the factory. Do you know if others used CDV in this particular way? I appreciated finding the approximate date of the card from your blog. Thanks very much for posting this.
Jim, I’m sure they did, thouogh I have no other examples of this. I have seen cdvs used as an advertising medium and have one such example. I’ll post it as soon as I can search it out.
Glad to hear we could help with the approximate dates for F R Ryles.
QVictoria
Thanks for your comment/help on my blog Wanda B. Victorian. I’m definately going to add you to my favorites bar as I hope to have a regular feature on my blog of my growing card collection. I’m interested in the women’s clothes and how they wore them and so dating is valuable information to me. When I have a card that hales from Britian your blog will be my first stop for research! I’m from Canada so most of my cards in my collection are Canadian but I have a few from your neck of the woods…brought over by loved ones immigrating probably. I have posted one from Scottland that I’m going to relook at and compare to your notes!
I have several photos taken at different studios, at least one which isn’t within this blog/web site. So for all of your informations these are (between 1875-90)
Combes 32 Preston Street Brighton
H.Sache Southampton
Henderson at King William St. London Bridge and at Amersham Rd. New Cross
Emberson and Sons 6 Wilton Rd. Belgravia and Chertsey SW Surrey.
W J Robinson 46 High St. Gosport
Charles Brown 80 Stroud Green Rd, Finsbury Park, N.
Ellis and Burville, London
A Gosney. Sherbourne, Yoevil, Dorchester and Crewkerne
B J Hunt 10 Oxford Road Windsor
I hope these addresses will be of use to some of you collector/historians
Paul, thanks for these ‘new’ photographers – I’ll put them in the Miscellaneous section,
Christine Hibbert