George
Washington Wilson
(1823
to 1893)
(page
one)
Having 'organized' my Wilson views into a complicated series of locations and voyages I have bowed to pressure and reorganized them into simple numerical order. This means that views of, for instance, Loch Katrine, may appear in a number of places throughout the pages. In January 2010 we added 120 views and this is now, probably, the most comprehensive selection of original Wilson views available for sale in the world.
G. W. Wilson is firmly established today as one of the masters of nineteenth century photography. Only 25 years ago his name was remembered by only a handful of dedicated researchers and enthusiasts. The book 'George Washington Wilson, Artist and Photographer' by Roger Taylor, published by Aberdeen University Press in 1981, introduced Wilson to a much wider and appreciative audience. I am indebted to the Aberdeen University Press for permission to quote extracts from the book here. Up until a few years ago the book could be obtained quite cheaply. I note that the few copies still available on secondhand book sites now cost over $200 in the US and almost $300 in the UK. I have a few copies for sale at $175 each.
In 1852 Aberdeen in Scotland mounted its first photographic exhibition at the Mechanics' Institute, displaying work by, among others, Cundall, Delamotte, Fenton, Le Gray and Fox Talbot. A special feature of the exhibition was the inclusion of a competition section for work by Scottish photographers. Wilson, in partnership with John Hay Junior, recognising the opportunity for publicity, submitted 22 portraits and two landscapes. The judges awarded a bronze medal to Wilson and Hay and, in addition, presented them with an additional silver medal for '... the general excellence and evidence of progress displayed in their collodio-calotype portraits'.
Wilson, aged 29, was on his way to established success. In 1853 however, an event took place some 50 miles from Aberdeen that was to have a profound effect on Wilson's social and business prosperity. On 23 September, Queen Victoria, aided by Prince Albert, laid the foundation stone of their new highland home, Balmoral Castle.
Once the work was under way, Prince Albert commissioned Wilson and Hay to make photographs at regular intervals of the building's progress. What prompted Albert to select Wilson and Hay is unknown. Although Wilson initially produced factual photographs of the construction work, when this was completed he was retained by Albert to photograph the interior and, gradually, the family including the Queen and the many European royal visitors who came to the castle.
Please
note that this section now extends to THREE pages with the links at the
bottom to the next. There are still many gaps to fill and I am actively
seaching for more Wilson views, especially of shipping. Amongst the earlier
numbers Wilson frequently used the same number for a couple of completely
different views. This happens far less in the higher numbers. If you are
searching for particular views please email. Finally, you may see some
difference in the quality, size and especially lightness of some of the
scans even though the views have the same grading number. This is
due to different scanners being used.
'Whistlefield Lock Eck, Clyde'.
This does not seem to have a matching numbered view. The first two have
this back.
Condition 6.
Order #5401.
Price $12.
No number. 'Dunbar'. This does
not seem to have a matching numbered view.
Condition 6.
Order #5402.
Price $12.
George
Walker, stationer, bookseller and friend of Wilson tells us that in 1855
'stereoscopic views began to appear at this time, and Wilson experimented.
Early views by Wilson, although his technique was not perfected, found
a ready market at 2/- (15 cents) each. This was the period when the railways
were opening up what until then had been far-flung areas to tourism, and
one of the first regions to feel the benefit of a vast influx of tourists
(all wanting photograpic souveniers) was the Trossachs and Loch Katrine
immortalized by Sir Walter Scott in his epic work 'The Lady of the Lake'.
No 4A. The Brig i' Balgowie,
on the Don, near Aberdeen.
Condition 5 with mount split
thru center.
Order #5403.
Price $5.
No 7. Part of Bonnington Falls
on the Clyde.
Condition 8.
Order #5404.
Price $15.
No 7A. Part of Bonnington Falls
on the Clyde.
Condition 7 (several spots).
Order #5405.
Price $12.
No 8. Waterfall at Inversnaid,
Loch Lomond.
Condition 8 but slight mark
at top.
Order #5406.
Price $18.
Unnumbered but may be an alternative
title for #9 or #10 both of which Treadwell lists with Aberdeen Cathedral
titles. Titled. Cathedral, Old Aberdeen, from S.E.
Condition 7/8.
Order #5407.
Price $12.
No 9. Loch Katrine, Perthshire.
Condition 8 but slight split
of mount thru center not affecting images.
Order #5408.
Price $12.
No 10. Loch Katrine- Path by
the Loch.
Condition 8.
Order #5409.
Price $18.
No 10A. Loch Katrine.
Condition 8/9 (slight marks
in sky).
Order #5410.
Price $18.
No 12. Balmoral Castle from
Craig-an-Gowan.
Condition 5 with deposits
from another view on the back.
Order #5411.
Price $8.
Unnumbered but title - King's
College Aberdeen, from the N.W. - matches Treadwell's listing for #13.
Condition 8.
Order #5412.
Price $15.
No 14. Balmoral Castle from
the River.
Condition 8 (slight marks
in sky. One very small white spot).
Order #5413.
Price $18.
No 15. Colonnade of basaltic
pillars, Staffa. Early small white label.
Condition 7.
Order #5414.
Price $15.
There are several versions of the Clamshell Cave, Staffa, views. Whether Wilson visited more than once is not known but all feature old fishermen types who would have been the ones who transported Wilson and his equipment.
No 16. The mouth of the Clamshell
Cave, Staffa. Classic Wilson, photographed in 1867.
Condition 8 (some marks).
Order #5415.
Price $18.
No 16. The mouth of the Clamshell
Cave, Staffa. Another pose of this extremely popular view.
Condition. Images 7 but mout
is slightly split thru center.
Order #5416.
Price $12.
No 16. Clamshell Cave, Staffa.
Different pose.
Condition 7 (moderate marks
in sky).
Order #5417.
Price $15.
No 17. Fingal's Cave, Staffa.
Man standing.
Condition 8.
Order #5418.
Price $18.
No 17. Fingal's Cave, Staffa.
Variant with two men facing inward.
Condition 8.
Order #5419.
Price $18.
No 18. The Silver Strand, Loch
Katrine.
Condition 7/8 (some light
circular white spots, especially in sky).
Order #5420.
Price $15.
No 20. The Boat Pier, Loch
Katrine.
Condition 9.
Order #5421.
Price $22.
No 20B. Loch Katrine - The
Trossachs' Pier.
Condition 8.
Order #5422.
Price $18.
No 20C. The Trossachs' Pier,
Loch Katrine.
Condition 8/9.
Order #5423.
Price $22.
No 21. Pass of the Trossachs.
Condition 8/9.
Order #5424.
Price $15.
No 22. The Pass of the Trossachs,
looking towards Ben Venue.
Condition 8.
Order #5425.
Price $15.
No 25. Bracklinn bridge, near
Callander, Perthshire.
Condition 7.
Order #5427.
Price $12.
No 28. Loch Katrine, Perthshire.
Condition 8.
Order #5428.
Price $18.
No 28. Loch Katrine, Perthshire.
Variant.
Condition 8.
Order #5429.
Price $18.
No 28A. Loch Katrine looking
west.
Condition 8.
Order #5430.
Price $18.
No 32A. Oban, Argyllshire'.
Condition 8.
Order #5431.
Price $18.
No 35. Linn of Quoich, Braemar.
Condition 9.
Order #5432.
Price $18.
No 35A. Linn of Quoich, Braemar.
Condition 8.
Order #5433.
Price $15.
No 36. Loch Katrine - Ellen's
Isle. Early version.
Condition 7/8 (very slight
marks in sky).
Order #5434.
Price $15.
No 36. Loch Katrine - Ellen's
Isle. Later version, dated 1868.
Condition. Mount is slightly
split thru center, not affecting images.
Order #5435.
Price $25.
No 36. Loch Katrine - Ellen's
Isle. Tinted later version. Tinted Wilson views are hard to find.
Condition 8/9
Order #5436.
Price $25.
Loch Katrine - Ellen's Isle.
Very late 19th century mount.
Condition 7/8.
Order #5437.
Price $12.
The use
of the same neg. in a late G.W. Wilson Limited view produced after 1893.
A poignant footnote to Wilson's career is that, in the closing months of
1892, Wilson was old and ailing and obviously not long for this world.
His sons, burdened by mounting costs and falling sales, consulted a lawyer
who, without Wilson's knowledge, suggested turning the firm into a limited
company before Wilson expired. The papers were drawn up and were signed
by Wilson in a shaky hand on 24 February 1893. On the evening of 8 March
Wilson retired to bed and, at one o'clock in the morning, was seized with
an intense fit. His sons were called to his bedside and managed to obtain
his signature finally authorizing the limited company. At 8.45 the following
morning Wilson died.
No 38.
Glasgow Cathedral - from south-east.
Condition
8/9.
Order
#5438.
Price
$22.
No 39. Iona Cathedral and St
Martin's Cross.
Condition 8 (couple of slight
marks in sky).
Order #5440.
Price $18.
No 41. The Linn of Corrymulzie,
Braemar.
Condition 8.
Order #5441.
Price $15.
No 44. Upper Falls of Garrvalt
- Braemar.
Condition 8/9.
Order #5442.
Price $18.
No 44. Upper Falls of Garrvalt
- Braemar. Variant.
Condition 8/9.
Order #5443.
Price $18.
No 46A. Stirling Castle.
Condition 7 (some surface
scratches).
Order #5444.
Price $15.
No 54. Elgin Cathedral - The
Choir.
Condition 7/8.
Order #5445.
Price $15.
No 57. Bridge on the Cluny,
Braemar.
Condition 5.
Order #5446.
Price $5.
No 58. Bit on the Trossachs.
Condition 8.
Order #5447.
Price $15.
No 59A. Loch Achray and Ben
Venue from above the Trossachs' Inn.
Condition 8/9.
Order #5448.
Price $18.
No 59B. Loch Achray and Ben
Venue.
Condition 8.
Order #5449.
Price $18.
No 59B. Loch Achray and Ben
Venue. Variant.
Condition. Light marks in
sky.
Order #5450.
Price $18.
No 64. Falls of Bracklinn,
near Callander, Perthshire. Early small white label.
Condition 8.
Order #5451.
Price $10.
'When
he made his first visit to the Trossachs with George Walker in 1859 they
seem to have thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Walker tells us how they "bathed
in the loch, in spite of the monster pike we saw, and we hid ourselves
in the bracken, which was in many places eight feet in height". The midges
(mosquitoes) they disturbed attacked Walker with ferocity and brought his
face and neck out in bright red swellings. He was puzzled that they left
Wilson entirely alone and wondered if it was "in consequence of the fumes
of chloroform and colloidion with which his clothes were saturated"'.
No 65. Trossachs and Loch Katrine.
Condition 9.
Order #5452.
Price $18.
No 65. The Trossachs and Loch
Katrine from the brow of Ben Venue. Slightly different and probably earlier
version with small white label.
Condition 7 (moderate marks
in sky).
Order #5453.
Price $15.
No 68. Interior of Fingal's
Cave, Staffa. An incredibly difficult shot.
Condition 8/9.
Order #5454.
Price $22.
No 70. Otter Island, Loch Katrine.
Condition 8/9.
Order #5455.
Price $18.
No 71. Castleton of Braemar.
Condition 7/8 (couple of slight
marks).
Order #5456.
Price $15.
No 71. Castleton of Braemar.
Variant.
Condition 8.
Order #5457.
Price $18.
No 72. Invercauld House, Braemar
- From the 'Lion-Face' Rock.
Condition 8,
Order #5458.
Price $18.
No 73. In the Pass of the Trossachs.
Condition 9.
Order #5459.
Price $18.
No 81. The Trossachs Church.
Condition 8 (slight marks
in sky).
Order #5461.
Price $18.
No 82. In the Pass of the Trossachs,
looking towards Ben A'an.
Condition 7 (moderate marks
in sky).
Order #5462.
Price $15.
No 83. In the Pass of the Trossachs.
'Where twines the path in shadow hid, round many a rocky pyramid.'
Condition 7/8.
Order #5463.
Price $15.
No 85. The "Victoria" Steamer
bound for Peterhead (Instantaneous).
Condition 7 (light marks).
Order #5464.
Price $18.
No 88. Interior of Holyrood
Chapel. Early small white label.
Condition 7.
Order #5465.
Price $12.
No 90.
Holyrood Palace. Wilson tried to be a bit too clever here and shot
from the tumble of rocks in the foreground, creating a most confusing view.
Condition.
?Misty sky and processing marks.
Order
#5466.
Price
$12.
No 90.
Holyrood House and Arthur Seat, Edinburgh. A later version. Wilson's
vantage point in the previous view can be seen further down the hill.
Condition
9.
Order
#5467.
Price
$20.
No 90B. Holyrood Palace.
Condition 8.
Order #5468.
Price $18.
No 91.
Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh, from the Queen's Park.
Condition
8.
Order
#5469.
Price
$18.
Wilson first stereographed Roslyn
(sometimes printed 'Roslin') in 1859 and returned in the 1860s for further
views, some of which he assigned to the same numbers in his stock list.
One of his problems was that only a maximum of six prints could be made
from one negative per day as the exposure was by daylight. This reduced
to four at most in the winter months. As his business grew the demand for
views increased dramatically and the only solution was to revisit old haunts
and produce futher negatives which became variants of the same scene.
No 92.
Interior of Roslin Chapel - the 'Apprentice's Pillar'. Handwritten 'Bought
in the Chapel, Septr. 19th 1860, when in Scotland with Fredr. Brahoo??'.
Note man in contemplation.
Condition
8.
Order
#5470.
Price
$18.
No 92A.
Interior of Roslin Chapel - the 'Apprentice's Pillar'.
Condition
9.
Order
#5471.
Price
$18.
No 94. Interior of Roslin Chapel.
Condition 9.
Order #5472.
Price $18.
Melrose Abbey must have been one of Wilson's great successes as there are many variations and views from different angles with different people appearing. Here we show a selection.
No 96. Melrose Abbey from the
S.E. This is an early version and bears only the small white label without
attribution to Wilson.
Condition 7.
Order #5473.
Price $15.
No 96. A much more dramatic
and professional version of No 96. This has a reversed Wilson label from
another title with this title handwritten.
Condition. Three diagonal
surface marks and stain on left image.
Order #5474.
Price $15.
No 97. Melrose Abbey from the
south-west. This is the early version with small white label.
Condition 8/9.
Order #5475.
Price $18.
No 97. Melrose Abbey, from
the SW.
Condition 7/8 (slight marks
in sky).
Order #5476.
Price $18.
No 97. Melrose Abbey, from
the SW.
Condition 8.
Order #5477.
Price $18.
No 98. Melrose Abbey from the
south. Early version with small white label.
Condition 8.
Order #5478.
Price $18.
No 98. Melrose Abbey from the
south. Later version.
Condition 8.
Order #5479.
Price $18.
No 99. Melrose Abbey from the
east.
Condition 9.
Order #5480.
Price $22.
No 99A. Melrose Abbey, from
the East. Early small white label.
Condition. Dent in mount at
top, otherwise 8.
Order #5481.
Price $18.
No 99A. Melrose Abbey, from
the E. Later version.
Condition 9.
Order #5482.
Price $22.
No 103. Abbotsford from the
River.
Condition 8 (light marks in
sky).
Order #5483.
Price $22.
No 104A. Dryburgh Abbey - The
Tomb of Sir Walter Scott.
Condition 8.
Order #5484.
Price $15.
No 104B. Dryburgh Abbey - Tomb
of Sir Walter Scott.
Condition 8.
Order #5485.
Price $15.
No 104B. Dryburgh Abbey - Tomb
of Sir Walter Scott. A (probably later) much better composition.
Condition 9.
Order #5486.
Price $18.
No 108. Edinburgh - From Calton
Hill - Old Town. London Stereoscopic blindstamp.
Condition 5.
Order #5488.
Price $8.
No 111. Edinburgh Castle, from
Princes Street Gardens.
Condition 8.
Order #5489.
Price $18.
No 111. Edinburgh Castle, from
Princes Street Gardens. Variant.
Condition 7 (moderate marks
in sky).
Order #5490.
Price $15.
No 113. Burns Monument,
Edinburgh.
Condition 7.
Order #5491.
Price $15.
No 114. Edinburgh - Scott's
Monument.
Condition 8.
Order #5492.
Price $18.
No 114A. Edinburgh - Scott's
Monument.
Condition 8.
Order #5493.
Price $18.
No 114A. Sir Walter Scott's
Monument, Edinburgh. Variant.
Condition 9.
Order #5494.
Price $18.
No 114A. Sir Walter Scott's
Monument, Edinburgh. Further variant.
Condition. Label has been
attached at top right leaving light mark and a small deposit.
Order #5495.
Price $12.
No 114A. Scott's Monument,
Edinburgh. Totally different view.
Condition 8.
Order #5496.
Price $15.
No 118. Edinburgh - Waverly
Bridge and Old Town from Princes Street.
Condition 9.
Order #5497.
Price $18.
TO
THE SECOND PAGE OF VIEWS BY GEORGE WASHINGTON WILSON
