Color
views originated with tinted (hand-colored) cards around 1855. They are
probably the most interesting and rewarding to collect as they illustrate
vividly English middle and upper class life in the mid-nineteenth century
from a much less contrived perspective than the 'formal' portrait photograph.
Being expensive they were aimed at the middle and upper classes and therefore
reflect their life, aspirations, fears and prejudices. Poverty is rarely
shown and, when it is, is almost always accompanied by a strong moral reasoning
(usually alcohol or gambling), or is set in an historical context (biblical).
Humor often makes fun of the rustic or the Irish (or both together!). Children
are, with a few notable exceptions, shown in idyllic settings whereas the
vast majority at this time were living in abject poverty, working in appalling
conditions from a very early age and had a life expectancy of under 30
years. They should therefore be considered as aimed for and illustrating
a very narrow stratum of society indeed.
Most
of the views illustrated here date from between 1855 and 1865. If you want
more information on a particular view please email. Many later (curved
mount) color views can be found on the pages to which they relate.
No two views are ever exactly the same and we have illustrated some views
with no difference except the personal taste of the colorists.
Scans of these do not, sometimes, do justice to the actual view as details tinted on each image are intended to come together when viewed. This saved time when tinting as work did not have to be repeated on each view. It does make some look crude when freeviewing. We are always happy to take back any views that do not come up to expectations.
A few are German, probably pirated, images for the English market designed to undercut on price. Quality is very subjective on color views as some were quite crudely printed to start with. In general views are somewhat better than scans.
Many of the English views are of superb quality and are becoming the area of greatest increase in value of all stereoviews. When you take into account the fact that many of these were produced before 1860 and that each view was individually and painstakingly tinted by hand using up to 80 colors, it is not surprising that they are rising quickly in price. Some of the people who worked on these views were miniaturist artists who had been left with no work due to the advent of photography. A good area to collect and invest!
Grading is a little more difficult on these as, not only were they photographed, but they were then tinted with watercolor paints which have sometimes flaked in places over the years. Any major flaking will be mentioned but expect the odd slight loss which is normal. I suppose the color on these would restore excellently with skill and the correct tints.
There is some sort of vague order to these pages - for instance we have started with views relating to churches and weddings etc.. Well worth running thru the four pages though.
Size
difference is due to scanner settings as are the white marks in the corners.
The Wedding Day was
the single most important day of a woman's life and, in Victorian times
at least, the achievement of the main purpose of her existance. A 'good
marriage' could spell the difference between a comfortable existence with
servants to do the manual work and a life of pauperism ending in the workhouse.
No social security or pensions in those days! There are endless variations
on the preparation for the wedding, the actual day, and the aftermath.
All these views are different.
Untitled.
Condition 7.
Order #151.
Price $8.
James Elliott. Untitled.
Condition 8/9.
Order #152.
Price $18.
James Elliott 'Bride'. Label
and blindstamp.
Condition 8.
Order #153.
Price $18.
James Elliott. Untitled version
of 'Bride'. Blindstamp and 'second proof' blindstamp.
Condition 8.
Order #155.
Price $15.
Untitled version of Elliott's
'Bride'.
Condition 7.
Order #156.
Price $12.
James Elliott 'Bride'. Label,
blindstamp and 'second proof' blindstamp.
Condition. Mount slightly
chewed at top right and slight scuffing on right image.
Order #157.
Price $12.
'A visit to the bride'.
Condition 7.
Order #158.
Price $12.
James Elliott blindstamp 'Wedding'.
All kneeling.
Condition 8.
Order #160.
Price $18.
James Elliott blindstamp 'Wedding'.
All standing.
Condition. White spot in arch
on left image is loss. Otherwise 8/9.
Order #161.
Price $18.
James Elliott blindstamp.
Condition 8/9.
Order #162.
Price $18.
Untitled.
Condition 7.
Order #163.
Price $12.
'James Elliott' written on
the back. Untitled.
Condition 8.
Order #164.
Price $18.
Untitled.
Condition. Slight loss on
on pillar on right image.
Order #165.
Price $15.
James Elliott. Untitled. Label,
blindstamp and 'second proof' blindstamp.
Condition 7.
Order #166.
Price $12.
Untitled.
Condition. Slight stain on
left image.
Order #167.
Price $15.
'The Wedding. Copyright'.
Condition 7.
Order #168.
Price $12.
'The Wedding'.
Condition 8.
Order #169.
Price $18.
'The lost ring'.
Condition 8.
Order #170.
Price $15.
'Broken vows'. J. Elliott blindstamp.
Condition. Small scrape (white
line) across the center.
Order #171.
Price $12.
Untitled version of 'Broken
vows'.
Condition. Much less clear
than the previous view.
Order #172.
Price $8.
'Broken vows'. J. Elliott and
W.H. Mason, Brighton, blindstamps.
Condition. Light crease across
right image.
Order #173.
Price $8.
'Broken vows'. J. Elliott blindstamp.
Condition 9.
Order #174.
Price $22.
'Broken vows'. Blindstamp unclear
but probably Elliott.
Condition 8.
Order #175.
Price $18.
'The wedding'.
Condition 7.
Order #176.
Price $15.
'The wedding'.
Condition 7/8.
Order #177.
Price $15.
Untitled.
Condition. Slight crease thru
center.
Order #178.
Price $12.
'The happiest day of my life'.
Condition 7/8.
Order #179.
Price $18.
'Smiles and tears'. Rejected
lover on left.
Condition 7/8.
Order #180.
Price $18.
Untitled.
Condition. Some Victorian
dork has pierced the wedding dress on the right image with a pin. Excellent
depth and tinting almost makes up for that.
Order #181.
Price $10.
James Elliott blindstamp. 'The
Wedding Breakfast'.
Condition 7/8.
Order #182.
Price $15.
James Elliott and Second Proof
blindstamps. 'The Wedding Breakfast'. Same characters as previous view
but reposed.
Condition 7 (better than scan).
Order #183.
Price $12.
James Elliott blindstamp. 'The
Wedding Breakfast'. Same pose as above with different tinting.
Condition. Slight loss at
top right of right image (white mark).
Order #184.
Price $12.
James Elliott 'The Wedding
Breakfast'. Reposed again.
Condition 9.
Order #2101.
Price $18.
James Elliott blindstamp. Reposed
again.
Condition 8/9.
Order #2102.
Price $18.
James Elliott blindstamp. 'The
Wedding Breakfast'. Another pose.
Condition 8/9.
Order #2103.
Price $18.
Arthur Silvester 'The Honeymoon'.
Poem by Carrington.
Condition 7.
Order #2104.
Price $15.
'One week after marriage -
all's well'.
Condition 9.
Order #2105.
Price $22.
'Five weeks after marriage
- that nasty disgusting pipe'. James Elliott with London Stereoscopic blindstamp.
Condition 9/10.
Order #2106.
Price $22.
Untitled baptism scene.
Condition 9.
Order #2107.
Price $22.
Untitled baptism scene.
Condition 8.
Order #2108.
Price $18.
'The Christening'.
Condition 8/9.
Order #2109.
Price $22.
Untitled baptism scene.
Condition 7/8 (grubby mount).
Order #2110.
Price $15.
London Stereoscopic blindstamp.
Untitled.
Condition 7 but right bottom
edge of left image curled up.
Order #2111.
Price $12.
'Reception and Profession of
a Sister of Mercy'. Long descriptive text.
Condition 8.
Order #2112.
Price $18.
Untitled confessional scene.
Condition 8.
Order #2113.
Price $15.
'The Patent Pulpit. Suggested
to Congregations for the sudden extinguishing of Dundreary Sermons'. One
of a set of three views - the others showing a priest preaching at length
and a cover descending over him. Lord Dundreary was renowned for preaching
long sermons at the same time as this view was produced. I doubt whether
he was amused.
Condition. Slight damage on
left image.
Order #2114.
Price $6.
'Mamma Dear, what do they play
the organ so loud for when Church is over - Is it to wake us up?'
Condition. Mount split thru
center, not affecting images. White mark on dress on left image.
Order #2115.
Price $12.
'Domestic Bliss. "Now, upon
my life Angelina, this is too bad - no buttons again!". "Well, my dear,
it's of no use fidgetting about it, you must speak to Ann. You can't expect
me to do everything".' Servant trouble again, obviously.
Condition 8.
Order #2116.
Price $18.
'Domestic Bliss. "Now, upon
my life Angelina, this is too bad - no buttons again!". "Well, my dear,
it's of no use fidgetting about it, you must speak to Ann. You can't expect
me to do everything".'
Condition 7/8.
Order #2117.
Price $15.
'The convenience of married
life'.
Condition 7.
Order #2118.
Price $15.
'The convenience of married
life'.
Condition. Small brown piece
of paper stuck to right image.
Order #2119.
Price $12.
'A stitch in time saves nine'.
Condition 9 (tiny image faults).
Order #2120.
Price $22.
'After a storm cometh a calm'.
Condition. Images 9 but damage
to label.
Order #2121.
Price $18.
'Barney's Blarney'.
Condition 8.
Order #2122.
Price $18.
'Barney's Blarney'.
Condition. I have removed
the lump of sweet (toffee for those interested - and very nice it was too)
that you can see stuck to the left image. It has left a very slight mark.
Order #2123.
Price $15.
'Match Making'. Slightly dopey-looking
man paying court to ugly woman while three (?woman's brothers) look on.
Much prettier but rejected woman watches sadly in background.
Condition 8.
Order #2124.
Price $18.
'Match Making'.
Condition. Slight damage at
top of left image.
Order #2125.
Price $12.
London Stereoscopic Company
blindstamp. 'Married and Happy'.
Condition 7/8.
Order #2126.
Price $18.
'A present to an old bachelor'.
Condition 8.
Order #2127.
Price $18.
Untitled view of a bachelor
threading a needle.
Condition 8/9.
Order #2128.
Price $18.
Condition 8.
Order #2129.
Price $22.
'The birth of an heir'. Published
by J. Ward, 125 Washington Street, Boston.
Condition 9.
Order #2130.
Price $22.
'The image of its father'.
Condition 7.
Order #2131.
Price $12.
'Our first'.
Condition 8 but trimmed at
sides.
Order #2132.
Price $15.
'Three o'clock in the morning'.
Man trying to feed doll - as are the following views.
Condition 8.
Order #2133.
Price $15.
'Three o'clock in the morning'.
Different tinting.
Condition 8.
Order #2134.
Price $18.
'Three o'clock in the morning'.
Different tinting.
Condition 8.
Order #2135.
Price $18.
'Three o'clock in the morning'
missing its label.
Condition 6.
Order #2136.
Price $5.
'Three o'clock in the morning'
missing its label.
Condition. Slight crease thru
center.
Order #2137.
Price $12.
Condition 8/9.
Order #2138.
Price $18.
'Dance a baby diddy'. Same
verse as the previous view.
Condition 8.
Order #2139.
Price $18.
'Dance a baby diddy', with
label missing. London Stereoscopic blindstamp.
Condition 7.
Order #2140.
Price $12.
Untitled.
Condition. Slight fault on
left image.
Order #2141.
Price $8.
'Feeding the goat'.
Condition 7.
Order #2142.
Price $12.
'The Pet'.
Condition 8.
Order #2143.
Price $18.
'Dining out and nothing for
the waiter'.
Condition. Good color, sharpness
and depth but minor marks.
Order #2144.
Price $15.
'Dining out and nothing for
the waiter'.
Condition 9.
Order #2145.
Price $22.
Untitled Little Red Riding
Hood. Note wolf peering out of window.
Condition 7.
Order #2146.
Price $12.
'Little Red Riding Hood'.
Condition. Slight fault on
face on left image which views out.
Order #2147.
Price $18.
'Little Red Riding Hood'. Plus
text.
Condition. Moderate split
thru center slightly affecting edges of images.
Order #2148.
Price $10.
Part remaining of 'Little Red
Riding Hood' label.
Condition 6.
Order #2149.
Price $8.
'Little Red Riding Hood'.
Condition. Red paint loss
on left image.
Order #2150.
Price $12.
Rare untitled view.
Condition. Slight crease left
image - not viewable.
Order #2153.
Price $35.
A faded version but this has
the title - 'Melody'.
Condition. Fading.
Order #2154.
Price $8.
'Hoop de dooden do'.
Condition 9.
Order #2156.
Price $75.
'Hoop de dooden do'. London
Stereoscopic blindstamp.
Condition. Some marks.
Order #2157.
Price $22.
'Little Mischief'.
Condition 8.
Order #2158.
Price $18.
'Little Mischief'.
Condition. Split thru center
slight affecting edges of images.
Order #2159.
Price $12.
'Little Mischief'. Negretti
& Zambra backstamp.
Condition. Split thru center
not affecting images.
Order #2160.
Price $10.
'Enfantillages. Le baiser par
escalade'.
Condition 8.
Order #2161.
Price $12.
'Neglected Genius'.
Condition. A bit smudged on
the face on right image. Mount surface loss.
Order #2162.
Price $8.
Charles A. Beckford, Salem,
Mass. 'Comic Groups'. List of Beckford's views in this series on the back.
This is 'A Village Tyrant'. Beckford was a dealer in books, pictures, etc.
and was not known to have produced his own views. He was located at 141
Essex Street and 21 Ocean Avenue, Salem.
Condition. Mount split thru
center not affecting images.
Order #2163.
Price $10.
'In for a licking, a lick and
a stick'.
Condition 7.
Order #2164.
Price $15.
Next a few 'illusion' views
which come together with much squinting. Date around 1890/1900 by the look
of the dress and probably German.
Untitled.
Condition. Slight crease at
left.
Order #2165.
Price $18.
Untitled.
Condition 8.
Order #2166.
Price $22.
Untitled.
Condition. Slight creases
at bottom.
Order #2167.
Price $18.
