There are probably more fine early (1850s) views of Oxford than any other city in the world. Academics, especially those with scientific leanings, would have been fascinated by the new science of photography and wanting to try their hand. To a lesser extent this is also true of Cambridge. Many superb views are not attributed but one excellent series on purple mounts, published by Spiers and Son of Oxford, is attributed to 'Philip H. Delamotte F.S.A., Joseph Cundall, and other excellent photographers'. Cundall was Delamotte's publisher and I am not sure what his photographic contribution to this series would have been. Many of this series are attributed to Delamotte who taught photography at the Photographic Institution in London and produced views of Crystal Palace, stereo dags and hyperstereos, and was also an accomplished artist - giving drawing lessons to the Royal Family. Stephen Thomson, that elusive photographer whose stereoviews of Alpine scenes surpassed even those of William England, also produced fine views although they are rare. Other excellent views have no attribution. We are pleased to be able to offer a comprehensive page of views of Oxford, many of which have superb contrast which makes them look rather dark when scanned.
We start with the Delamotte series which all have gold-blocked edges. The width varies by about a half inch but none are trimmed as they all retain their gold blocking both sides. The ones definately attributed to Delamotte are noted - the rest are probably by him and his name is mentioned on all. Most if not all have been taken with a single lens camera. Marks in corners are locating marks on the scanner and not damage.
After this
series the views are sorted by location.
'5. Christ Church, Canterbury
Gate'. By Delamotte and others.
Condition. Red stains on left
images, a few foxing spots on right image.
Order #503.
Price $12.
'13. New College, Oxford'.
By Delamotte.
Condition. Images 9. Light
staining to mount, front and back.
Order #504.
Price $25.
'14. Church of Saint Mary the
Virgin, Oxford'. By Delamotte and others.
Condition 8.
Order #505.
Price $22.
'20. Christ Church, Oxford'.
By Delamotte.
Condition 9.
Order #506.
Price $25.
l
'38. The Martyr's Memorial
from the west end of Balliol College'. By Delamotte and others.
Condition. Very light foxing
on right image.
Order #510.
Price $22.
'43. Front of Wadham College'.
By Delamotte and others.
Condition 8.
Order #513.
Price $22.
'47. Magdalen College; from
within the Cloister'. By Delamotte and others.
Condition. White marks on
extreme right and right bottom center are slight losses.
Order #514.
Price $22.
'50. Magdalene Tower; from
the garden of Merton College'. By Delamotte and others.
Condition. Small brown stain
in trees on left image. Fingerprint of processor on right image. Couple
of stains on the back.
Order #515.
Price $18.
'Christ Ch. Cathedral, Oxford'.
Condition 6 (slightly grubby)
Order #520.
Price $8.
'The Cathedral, Oxford'.
Condition 9
Order #521.
Price $10.
Oxford Illustrated by A.L.
Coke, published by F. Jones, London. 'Ch, Ch. The Cloisters'. (Christchurch).
Condition 8.
Order #522.
Price $12.
'??? Chapel, Oxford'.
Condition 8/9.
Order #523.
Price $10.
Underwood/Strohmeyer 'St Mary's
Church, Oxford'.
Condition. White mark at top
right of right image is slight loss.
Order #524.
Price $6.
'The Chancel, St Mary's Church,
Oxford'.
Condition 8.
Order #526.
Price $8.
Wheeler & Day, Oxford blindstamp.
Handwritten ' The Martyrs' Memorial, Oxford'.
Condition 6.
Order #529.
Price $10.
Handwritten ' The Martyrs'
Memorial, Oxford'.
Condition 8.
Order #530.
Price $15.
Handwritten 'Broad Walk,
Oxford'.
Condition 7.
Order #2591.
Price $6.
Handwritten 'The Broad
Walk, Oxford'.
Condition 8.
Order #2592.
Price $10.
'Tower of Magdalene from Botanic
Gardens, Oxford'. White label 'Sold by H. Alden, Stationer and music seller,
35 Corn Market Street, Oxford'. This view is reversed - see the calotype
below taken by W. H. Fox Talbot on 30 July 1842.
Condition 7/8 but light marks
in sky.
Order #2598.
Price $10.
'Magdalene Tower Oxford from
Botanical Gardens'. Note second storey added to building after Fox Talbot's
1842 image.
Condition. Small V-shape gouge
at bottom of left image. Light stains.
Order #2599.
Price $10.
'Magdalene College, Oxford'.
Condition 7/8.
Order #2601.
Price $12.
'Magdalen College from within
the Cloisters'. Plus description on mauve label. Nice early view.
Condition 8.
Order #2602.
Price $12.
'Magdalene College, the Cloister
Tower'.
Condition 7.
Order #2603.
Price $12.
'Magdalen College, Pugin's
Gate'. A nice small embossed seal attached to the back of this view. Built
in 1844, Pugin's Gate was pulled down around 1880 to make way for expansion.
1850s view.
Condition 9/10.
Order #2605.
Price $22.
'Magdalen College Oxford, Pugin's
Gate'.
Condition 7.
Order #2606.
Price $15.
'The New Buildings, Magdalen
Coll.'.
Condition 7.
Order #2607.
Price $12.
Handwritten 'New College Quadrangle,
Oxford'.
Condition 6 (slightly faded
and slightly blurred).
Order #2611.
Price $8.
'New College Gateway, Oxford'.
Condition 7/8.
Order #2613.
Price $12.
'The Chapel, New College, Oxford'.
Condition 6/7 (slight scuffs
to mount).
Order #2616.
Price $6.
'Trinity College Chapel, Oxford'.
Mechanically produced view.
Condition 7 (slight damage
to mount).
Order #2618.
Price $3.
1920s silver gelatin view by
Rotary on thin photographic paper. 'Oxford: Exeter College Chapel'.
Condition 9.
Order #2620.
Price $3.
'Interior of Exeter Chapel,
Oxford'.
Condition 9.
Order #2621.
Price $12.
'Interior of Exeter Chapel,
Oxford'.
Condition 8.
Order #2622.
Price $12.
G.W. Wilson. 'No 1165. Exeter
College Oxford. Interior looking east'.
Condition 9.
Order #2623.
Price $12.
Untitled 1850s view of the
interior of Exeter Chapel, Oxford. Rare 1850s view by Hills (blindstamp)
before he took up partnership with Saunders.
Condition 8/9.
Order #2624.
Price $18.
Hills & Saunders, Oxford,
blindstamp. Blue label 'Exeter College, Oxford. A.D. 1314. Dated 1865.
Condition 7.
Order #2625.
Price $8.
'Balliol College Hall, Oxford'.
Condition. Shadowing towards
center.
Order #2629.
Price $10.
'The Gardens, Balliol Coll.,
Oxford'. Blindstamp of Wheeler, 105 High Street, Oxford. Later in partnership
with Day.
Condition 8.
Order #2630.
Price $12.
'Corpus Christi College, Oxford'.
Condition 7/8.
Order #8156.
Price $12.
'St John's College, Oxford'.
Condition 8.
Order #8157.
Price $15.
'Chinese Towers, All Souls,
Oxford'.
Condition 8.
Order #8162.
Price $12.
Untitled 1850s view by Hills
(blindstamp) before he took up partnership with Saunders.
Condition 8.
Order #8165.
Price $12.
Handwritten on back 'Broughton
Castle'. This is near Banbury.
Condition 7/8.
Order #8168.
Price $12.
To views of Warwick and Stratford-on-Avon
To views of the West Midlands)
To views of Cambridge and Ely)
