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, 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.
Untitled.
Condition 7.
Order #153.
Price $8.
James Elliott 'Bride'. Label,
blindstamp and 'second proof' blindstamp.
Condition. Mount slightly
chewed at top right and slight scuffing on right image.
Order #154.
Price $12.
'A visit to the bride'.
Condition 7.
Order #155.
Price $12.
Gebhardt Rottmann & Co.
'On the wedding morning'. Bride's face reflected in mirror.
Condition 7.
Order #157.
Price $10.
Untitled. Excellet depth.
Condition. Some losses (white
spots).
Order #160.
Price $10.
James Elliott blindstamp 'Wedding'.
Condition. White spot in arch
on left image is loss. Otherwise 8/9.
Order #161.
Price $18.
Untitled.
Condition. Slight loss on
on pillar on right image.
Order #162.
Price $15.
Untitled.
Condition. Slight stain on
left image.
Order #163.
Price $15.
'The Wedding. Copyright'.
Condition 7.
Order #164.
Price $12.
'The lost ring'.
Condition 8.
Order #165.
Price $15.
'Broken vows'. J. Elliott blindstamp.
Condition. Small scrape (white
line) across the center.
Order #167.
Price $12.
'The wedding'.
Condition 7.
Order #168.
Price $15.
'The happiest day of my life'.
Condition 7/8.
Order #170.
Price $18.
'Smiles and tears'. Rejected
lover on left.
Condition 7/8.
Order #171.
Price $18.
Elliott blindstamp. 'The Wedding
Breakfast'. Same characters as previous view but reposed.
Condition 7 (better than scan).
Order #173.
Price $15.
Untitled wedding reception.
Condition 7.
Order #175.
Price $12.
Arthur Silvester 'The Honeymoon'.
Poem by Carrington. Compare with previous view to note how tinting was
a matter of choice.
Condition 7.
Order #177.
Price $15.
Untitled baptism scene.
Condition 7/8 (grubby mount).
Order #181.
Price $15.
Untitled baptism scene. Again,
note changes in tinting from previous view.
Condition 8.
Order #182.
Price $18.
'The Confirmation'.
Condition. White mark on cloak
on left image is loss. Creased mount at top right and grubby on back with
remains of old label.
Order #183.
Price $8.
London Stereoscopic blindstamp.
Untitled.
Condition 7 but right bottom
edge of left image curled up.
Order #2102.
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 7/8.
Order #2105.
Price $15.
'Domestic bliss. "For, what
we are going to receive make us truly thankful - Cold mutton again!"'
Condition 7.
Order #2106.
Price $12.
'The convenience of married
life'.
Condition 8.
Order #2107.
Price $18.
'The convenience of married
life'.
Condition 7.
Order #2108.
Price $15.
'The model husband'.
Condition 9. Overall very
light crackleure.
Order #2109.
Price $22.
London Stereoscopic Company
blindstamp. 'Married and Happy'.
Condition 7/8.
Order #2110.
Price $18.
London Stereoscopic Company
blindstamp.'The black draught. No 2. It's down at last thank goodness'.
Same people and props as previous view.
Condition 8/9.
Order #2111.
Price $22.
'The black draught'.
Condition 8.
Order #2112.
Price $18.
'A present to an old bachelor'.
Condition 8.
Order #2113.
Price $18.
'A present to an old bachelor'.
Very light tinting on this version.
Condition 8.
Order #2114.
Price $18.
'Looking down upon his luck'.
Condition 8/9.
Order #2115.
Price $18.
'The birth of an heir'. Published
by J. Ward, 125 Washington Street, Boston.
Condition 9.
Order #2117.
Price $22.
'Our first'.
Condition 7.
Order #2118.
Price $15.
'The image of its father'.
Condition 7.
Order #2119.
Price $12.
'Three o'clock in the morning'.
Man trying to feed doll - as are the following views.
Condition 8.
Order #2121.
Price $15.
'Three o'clock in the morning'.
Different tinting.
Condition 8.
Order #2122.
Price $18.
Condition 8/9.
Order #2127.
Price $18.
'Dance a baby diddy'. Same
verse as the previous view.
Condition 8.
Order #2128.
Price $18.
Untitled.
Condition. Slight fault on
left image.
Order #2131.
Price $8.
'Feeding the goat'.
Condition 7.
Order #2132.
Price $12.
'Dining out and nothing for
the waiter'.
Condition. Good color, sharpness
and depth but minor marks.
Order #2134.
Price $15.
'Dining out and nothing for
the waiter'.
Condition 9.
Order #2135.
Price $22.
'Little Red Riding Hood'.
Condition. Slight fault on
face on left image which views out.
Order #2136.
Price $18.
'Little Red Riding Hood'. Plus
text.
Condition. Moderate split
thru center slightly affecting edges of images.
Order #2138.
Price $10.
Part remaining of 'Little Red
Riding Hood' label.
Condition 6.
Order #2139.
Price $8.
Rare untitled view.
Condition. Slight crease left
image - not viewable.
Order #2140.
Price $35.
'Hoop de dooden do'.
Condition 9.
Order #2141.
Price $75.
'Little Mischief'. Negretti
& Zambra backstamp.
Condition. Split thru center
not affecting images.
Order #2142.
Price $10.
'Little Mischief'.
Condition. Split thru center
slight affecting edges of images.
Order #2144.
Price $12.
'Enfantillages. Le baiser par
escalade'.
Condition 8.
Order #2145.
Price $12.
'The young volunteer. 1862'.
Nice studio posed view.
Condition. Yellow and white
on right image is LOSS.
Order #2147.
Price $8.
'Neglected Genius'.
Condition. A bit smudged on
the face on right image. Mount surface loss.
Order #2148.
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 #2149.
Price $10.
'Playing at doctors'.
Condition 7.
Order #2152.
Price $15.
'The little Coquetta'.
Condition 9.
Order #2154.
Price $30.
'Christening dolly'.
Condition 8.
Order #2155.
Price $22.
'In for a licking, a lick and
a stick'.
Condition 7.
Order #2156.
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 #2157.
Price $18.
Untitled.
Condition 8.
Order #2158.
Price $22.
Untitled.
Condition. Slight creases
at bottom.
Order #2160.
Price $18.
