William England was chief photographer for the London Stereoscopic Company and made many important series from the late 1850s onward. The Swiss views for the Alpine Club were produced between 1863 and 1868. To quote William C. Darrah, 'The World of Stereographs': 'Without question, the series by William England, published under the patronage of the Alpine Club, stand foremost. The first set of 130 numbers, published in 1863, was lavishly praised. England returned to Switzerland and Tyrol in 1865 and 1867 and photographed extensively, ultimately producing more than 550 numbers'.
The chronology of these views is somewhat more complicated than previously thought. Tex Treadwell in Institute of Photographic Research view list series 5, 8th edition, May 2002, believed that the Switzerland series was enlarged to Switzerland and Savoy and then to Switzerland, Savoy and Italy, basically within the same series. From my research I believe the actual situation to be as follows:
An initial series was produced titled 'Views of Switzerland'. This was then re-published as 'Switzerland and Savoy' with further views added. The title printing on this second series is different; the first series was in brown capitals and small capitals thus: 'SWITZERLAND'; the second series was in red and all in capitals thus: 'SWITZERLAND AND SAVOY'. These all seem to bear the same titles as the first series but many have been re-photographed.
Treadwell indicates that when 'ITALY'
was added in 1867 the title was only used on views numbered higher than
#347. This is not the case as I have #1 and other low numbers. Some titles
of the series which includes Italy are totally different to Treadwell's
list as are some of the views.
We therefore have a totally separate
series. On the basis of a strictly limited number of views, this
series seems to be further subdivided as follows:
1. On left 'By permission dedicated
to the Alpine Club'. On right 'Views of Italy, Switzerland, and Savoy'.
Title in brown ink, capitals and small capitals, view titles and numbers
not matching the Switzerland series. Views seen of Italy only.
2. On left 'Views of Switzerland,
Savoy and Italy' (note different order). On right - same in French. No
mention of Alpine Club. Titles in red capitals. Views and titles matching
the Switzerland series.
3. One high-number view is as variant
2 but with title incorporated in neg.
Finally, there is another series, THE TYROL (A Choice Selection of Scenes in The Tyrol), comprising, according to Treadwell, 79 views. The printing on these titles is the same as the original Switzerland series EXCEPT that it is all capitals and not capitals and small caps. The actual view number on this series is in larger type (possibly a handstamp) or is handwritten in red ink. The printing is embossed often losing the ink leaving only the embossing. A further, unconnected series is THE RHINE, comprising 80 views.
Yes, I know, 'Get a life'.
Alpine views numbered 1-130 were
probably produced in 1863, the rest in either 1865 or 1867 although one
of these views is dated August 1869. The printing of the titles left something
to be desired on these and often the view # is not clear. I have used the
list of the late and sorely-missed Tex Treadwell to confirm unclear numbers.
All William England Alpine Series views are in numerical order. These are titled either 'Under the Special Patronage of the Alpine Club' or 'By Permission: Dedicated to the Alpine Club'. Where two numbers appear on different views, one has the first dedication and the other the second.
Mr Peter Blair has taken Treadwell's list of titles and vastly expanded it. This is now well on the way to a definitive list of England's alpine views. I am very grateful for his permission to publish his list, which you can download by clicking HERE. Please let us know if you can fill in any of the gaps of missing titles.
Please
ensure that you use order # and not the view number when ordering.
9. Lac du Geneve pres de Chillon,
Hotel Byron.
Condition 8.
Order #12931.
Price $18.
11. Chateau Chilllon, Lac du
Geneve (1).
Condition 6 (corner damage).
Order #12932.
Price $12.
13. Chateau Chilllon, Lac du
Geneve (3).
Condition 8.
Order #12933.
Price $18.
14. Chateau Chilllon, Prison
de Bonniard.
Condition 9.
Order #12934.
Price $24.
18. Vue du Geneve et du Rhone
(3).
Condition 7.
Order #12935.
Price $15.
19. Interieur de la Cathédrale
de St Pierre a Geneve.
Condition 8/9.
Order #12936.
Price $15.
20. Le Glacier des Bossons
Chamounix, Savoie.
Condition 8.
Order #12937.
Price $15.
23. Vue de Lausanne.
Condition 6.
Order #12938.
Price $10.
26. Panorama de Sallanches,
Savoie.
Condition. Faded and mount
split thru center.
Order #12939.
Price $6.
43. La Dome du Gote, vallee
du Chamounix, Savoie.
Condition 7/8.
Order #12940.
Price $18.
44. L'Auguille du Goute. Vallee
du Chamounix, Savoie.
Condition 6.
Order #12941.
Price $12.
48. Cascade du Dard. Vallee
de Chamounix, Savoie.
Condition 8.
Order #12942.
Price $18.
49. Hotel d'Angleterre, Chamounix,
Savoie.
Condition 7.
Order #12943.
Price $18.
53. Cascade du Barberine, Route
du Tete Noire, Savoie.
Condition. Mount has split
in center and it has been backed by stout black card.
Order #12944.
Price $6.
59. Gorge du Trient a Martigny,
Suisse (2).
Condition 9.
Order #12945.
Price $24.
59. Gorge du Trient a Martigny,
Suisse (2). Variant.
Condition 8.
Order #12946.
Price $22.
59. Gorge du Trient a Martigny,
Suisse (2). Variant.
Condition. Processing shadows
in water.
Order #12947.
Price $18.
60. Gorge du Trient a Martigny,
Suisse (3).
Condition 8.
Order #12948.
Price $18.
75. Vue a Interlaken, Suisse.
Condition. A few black production
spots.
Order #12949.
Price $18.
View #77 was popular and there are several variants with the people posed in different positions. Here are three.
77. Panorama d'Interlaken et
de la Jungfrau, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #12950.
Price $18.
77. Panorama d'Interlaken et
de la Jungfrau, Suisse.
Condition 7.
Order #12951.
Price $15.
77. Panorama d'Interlaken et
de la Jungfrau, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #12952.
Price $18.
79. Vue d'Interlaken et de
la Jungfrau.
Condition 8.
Order #12953.
Price $18.
80. Panorama d'Unterseen, Interlaken.
Condition 7 (slight spotting).
Order #12954.
Price $15.
84. Panorama de Interlaken,
Suisse (2).
Condition 8.
Order #12955.
Price $18.
85. Panorama de Interlaken
(3).
Condition 7.
Order #12956.
Price $15.
87. Le Giesbach pres du Lac
de Brienz, Suisse (1).
Condition 6.
Order #12957.
Price $12.
87. Le Giesbach pres du Lac
de Brienz, Suisse (1). Variant.
Condition 8.
Order #12958.
Price $18.
89. Le
Wetterhorn dans la Vallee de Grindelwald, Suisse.
Condition 8/9.
Order #12959.
Price $22.
90. Vue
du Wetterhorn a Grindelwald.
Condition. Surface scratches.
Order #12960.
Price $8.
95. Chalets a Grindelwald,
Suisse.
Condition 9.
Order #12961.
Price $24.
98. La vallee de Lauterbrunnen,
Suisse (1).
Condition 7 (mount clipped
at top).
Order #12962.
Price $15.
98. La vallee de Lauterbrunnen,
Suisse (1). Variant.
Condition 8.
Order #12963.
Price $18.
98. La vallee de Lauterbrunnen,
Suisse (1). Variant.
Condition 8.
Order #12964.
Price $18.
99. La vallee de Lauterbrunnen,
Suisse (2).
Condition 8.
Order #12965.
Price $18.
102. Wengern Alpes, Lauterbrunnen.
Condition 8/9.
Order #12966.
Price $22.
103. Chute du Staubbach, Vallee
de Lauterbrunnen, Suisse.
Condition 9.
Order #12967.
Price $22.
103. Chute du Staubbach, Vallee
de Lauterbrunnen, Suisse. Variant.
Condition. Slight loss to
corner of mount.
Order #12968.
Price $18.
104. Chute inferieure de Reichenbach
(1).
Condition 8.
Order #12969.
Price $18.
107. Le Wellhorn a Rosenlaui.
Full size advertising label for Way's views of Devon and Cornwall on the
back.
Condition 8.
Order #12970.
Price $18.
108. Le Wellhorn pris des Alpes,
Rosenlaui.
Condition 8/9.
Order #12971.
Price $22.
109. Gorge et Chute de Rosenlaui,
Suisse.
Condition 7.
Order #12972.
Price $15.
112. Vue pres de Rosenlaui.
Condition 5.
Order #12973.
Price $5.
116. Panorama de Thun pris
du Pavillon.
Condition 7.
Order #12975.
Price $12.
119. Vue prise du Chateau de
Thun, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #12976.
Price $24.
121. Chateau de Ober-Ofen sur
le Lac de Thun, Suisse.
Condition 9.
Order #12977.
Price $22.
123. Panorama de Berne (1).
Condition 8.
Order #12978.
Price $18.
126. Vue de la Terasse et de
la Cathedrale de Berne.
Condition 7.
Order #12980.
Price $12.
128. Le Pont du Gotteron a
Fribourg.
Condition 8.
Order #12981.
Price $18.
133. Interieure de la Cathedrale
de Lucerne, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #12982.
Price $24.
134. Le Lac de Lucerne, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #12983.
Price $22.
140. Fluelen, Canton d'Uri.
Condition 8.
Order #12984.
Price $18.
143. Monument du Lion, Lucerne.
Condition 9.
Order #12985.
Price $12.
145. Wiggis sur le Lac de Lucerne,
Suisse (1).
Condition 8 (some small black
processing spots).
Order #12987.
Price $15.
146. Wiggis sur le Lac de Lucerne,
Suisse (2).
Condition. Some marks in sky
area and processing spots.
Order #12988.
Price $12.
147. Interieur de l'Eglise
de Jesuites, Lucerne, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #12989.
Price $22.
150. Fluelen et le lac d'Uri,
Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #12990.
Price $18.
159. Statue de Guillaume Tell,
Altorf, Canton d'Uri, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #12991.
Price $24.
166. Le Lac de Zurich, Suisse.
Condition 3 (fading and marks).
Order #12992.
Price $5.
171. La Chute du Hin, Schaffhouse
(4).
Condition 7.
Order #12993.
Price $12.
176. Chute de Fatschbach, vallee
de Linththal, Suisse.
Condition 7.
Order #12995.
Price $12.
179. Vallee de la Linth, pris
de l'Hotel de Stachelberg, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #12996.
Price $18.
180. Stachelberg, vallee de
la Linth, Canton de Glarus, Suisse.
Condition 6/7.
Order #12997.
Price $12.
181. Gorge de Pfafers (1).
Condition 9.
Order #12998.
Price $22.
184. Gorge de Pfafers (4).
Condition 9.
Order #12999.
Price $22.
185. Entree de la Gorge
de Pfafers, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #13000.
Price $18.
188. Vue pres de Ragatz, Suisse.
Condition 9.
Order #13201.
Price $22.
188. Vue pres de Ragatz, Suisse.
Variant.
Condition 8.
Order #13202.
Price $15.
189. Gorge de la Tomina, Ragatz,
Suisse.
Condition 8/9.
Order #13203.
Price $22.
192. Panorama de la Coire et
la vallee du Rhin, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #13204.
Price $18.
196. Galerie sur la route de
la Via Mala, Suisse.
Condition 7 (a couple of light
stains).
Order #13206.
Price $12.
197. Le tunel du Trou Perdu,
Via Mala, Suisse.
Condition 9.
Order #13207.
Price $22.
198. Vue du Premier Pont, Via
Mala, Suisse.
Condition 9.
Order #13208.
Price $22.
199. Pont du milieu pris du
Found de la Crevasse, Via Mala, Suisse.
Condition 7.
Order #13209.
Price $12.
200. Vue dans la Via Mala,
Suisse.
Condition 9.
Order #13210.
Price $15.
201. Pont de Milieu dans la
Via Mala, Suisse (1).
Condition 8.
Order #13211.
Price $15.
204. Cascade pres du Pont du
Diable, Andermatt.
Condition 8.
Order #13213.
Price $15.
205. Vue sur la route de St
Gothard, pres d'Andermatt, Suisse.
Condition 7.
Order #13214.
Price $15.
227. Mont Blanc pris de Sallanche,
Savoie. Delicate tinting.
Condition 7/8 (light spotting).
Order #13215.
Price $28.
229. Cascade de St Gervais,
route de Chamounix, Savoie.
Condition 9.
Order #13216.
Price $22.
233. Chute de la Kander sur
le passage de la Gemmi, Suisse.
Condition 9.
Order #13218.
Price $18.
234. Le Jardin Anglais, Geneve.
Condition 8.
Order #13219.
Price $18.
240. Cascade dans la gorge
de l'Eau Noire pres de Martigny, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #13221.
Price $15.
247. La chapelle de l'Hospice
du Grand St Bernard, Suisse.
Condition 9.
Order #13222.
Price $28.
257. Panorama de Vevey.
Condition 8.
Order #13223.
Price $18.
259. La Dent du Midi et le Lac de
Geneve, pres de Chillon.
Condition 8.
Order #13224.
Price $18.
263. L'Eglise d'Interlaken,
Suisse.
Condition 9 except for slight
processing spot on right image.
Order #13225.
Price $25.
268. Le Chalet du Giessbach,
Suisse.
Condition 9.
Order #13226.
Price $22.
281. Cascade de Pletschbach,
route de Murren, Suisse.
Condition 9.
Order #13227.
Price $18.
302. Interieure de la Caverne
de Glace at Grindelwald. Note man standing.
Condition 8.
Order #13228.
Price $15.
312. Chute de l'Aar a Handeck,
Suisse.
Condition 9.
Order #13229.
Price $18.
321. Interieur de l'Eglise
de Stans, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #13230.
Price $18.
342. L'interieure de la Cathedrale
de Haute-Combe, pres d'Aix-le-Bains, Savoie.
Condition 7.
Order #13231.
Price $15.
To
the other William England series of Switzerland, Savoy and Italy and Rhine
views
To order,
note order # and price and click here
To
Underwood views of mountains and climbers
To
Underwood views of cities, towns and people
To
curved mount views by publishers other than Underwood
To
views by Braun, Tairraz, Savioz, Charnaux, Gabler and Lamy
To
early views and views by Stephen Thompson and B.W. Kilburn
