Two Albums with 192 Original Vernacular Gelatin Silver Photographs of British India, Showing Nainital (General Views, Hotel Metropole, Naina Devi Temple, “Trevillion & Clark” Shop on the Mall Rd., Cricket Game), Events of the 1911 Delhi Durbar, Kolkata, Kanpur, Jabalpur, Portraits of “a Bridegroom Robed for Wedding,” “a Holy Man – Fakir at Marble Rocks near Jubblepore,” Native People, British Residents, &c. Ca. 1910s.

Two Oblong Quarto albums, each ca. 23,5x28 cm (9 ¼ x 11 in). Each with 12 card stock leaves. With 192 gelatin silver photos, mounted in windows, each ca. 8x10,5 cm (3 ¼ x 4 ¼ in) or slightly smaller. About twenty-five photos with period white ink captions on the mounts, ca. 46 photos with period ink or pencil captions on verso (with over twenty repeating the captions on the mounts). Two period green and brown full cloth albums with gilt-lettered titles “Photographs” on the front covers. Bindings mildly rubbed on extremities and slightly weakened on hinges, a few photos mildly faded, but overall very good albums with interesting strong photographs.

Interesting extensive collection of original photos, taken by a high-ranking official in British India who took part in the Delhi Durbar on December 7-16, 1911. There are about thirty photos of the Delhi Durbar official events, including the ones taken by the compiler “from our pavilion” or from the spectators’ crowd. Five photos show the ceremony in the Coronation Park on December 12, when King George V and Queen Mary received homage from the native princes in the Little Pavilion. The other images depict the official processions, featuring “King’s native escort,” “Lord & Lady Harding,” and “Native Mutiny veterans soldiers,” as well as naval and military reviews at Delhi.

A series of photos of Nainital hill station include about a dozen general views of the city and the lake in summer and winter, Hotel Metropole and gardens (the hotel burned down in 2019), a “deputation of office menials for backsheesh at Xmas Day” waiting in front of the hotel, “Hindu temple” (Naina Devi Temple), a street scene during the local “pujah” festival, native soldiers marching on the Mall Rd. past the “Trevillion & Clark” shop, a scene of a cricket game, “a great dane at the N.T. dog show,” and “wasp’s nest in tree, Naini Tal.” The other photos show Kolkata (Jain Temple, Cathedral, Hooghly River, “tablet to commemorate Black Hole of Calcutta,” botanical gardens), Kanpur (Satti Chaura or Massacre Ghat, the Memorial Church and the Angel of Peace statue), Jabalpur (the Mable Rocks and waterfall on the Narmada River), yacht club in Mumbai, Mutiny memorial in Delhi, railway stations in “southern India” and West Bengal, railway tracks and cars, “ox ploughing in flooded rice fields,” portraits of a native bull cart driver, “a bridegroom robed for wedding,” “a holy man – fakir at Marble Rocks, Jubblepore,” &c. Several photos portray the album compiler, his family, friends and servants, scenes from picnics and outings, hunting, games, the interior of his house, &c. Over thirty photos in the second album show the compiler and his family in Europe, as well as views taken on the return trip to England (Suez Canal, Mount Vesuvius, &c.).

Overall an interesting extensive collection of original photos of Nainital, the events of 1911 Delhi Durbar and other locations in British India before WW1.

Captions on the mounts: Delhi D. Delhi Camps (Durbar); View from our pavilion of Little & Big Pavilion before K. & Q. arrived; View of Big Pavilion with Golden Dome; View of Little Pavilion before K. & Q. arrived; King & Q. receiving homage of Native Princes in Little Pavilion; Native Mutiny veterans soldiers; Queen alighting from carriage at polo grounds; Native Mutiny veterans soldiers at Delhi; Lord & Lady Hardingat Delhi; King’s native escort on way to unveiling of King Edward Memorial – Delhi; Yacht club at Bombay from the landing stage; Native family gathering at Cawnpore; Ox ploughing in flooded rice fields; Massacre ghat, Cawnpore; Wild monkeys in field at Jubbulpore; Delhi review of sailors & marines under Royal standard, the King’s bodyguard on the voyage; Naval brigade at Delhi; Jain temple, Calcutta; Holy man – fakir, with long hair at Marble Rocks, Jubb.; Hindu temple at N.T.; Rave at N.T. “pujah”; Railway station; River scene at Calcutta.

Captions on verso of the photos (not repeating the captions on the mounts): Douglas Dale (Harvey, Weston, Mrs. Gill Will); Douglas Dale (L. to R. Will, Gill, Harvey, Weston); Metropole Hotel, Naini Tal, Deputation of office menials for backsheesh at Xmas Day; Railway station, Southern India; Bridegroom robed for wedding; “Dick” with bearer; Near starting point for Marble Rocks, Jubbulpore; Mutiny Memorial Church, Cawnpore; Delhi Review, Cavalry marching past King, who is on black horse in front of Royal Standard; Mutiny Memorial at Delhi; Calcutta Cathedral; Marble Rocks, Jubblepore; Tablet to commemorate Black Hole of Calcutta; Under banyan tree, botanical gardens, Calcutta; Banyan tree, botanical gardens, Calcutta; Taken from dining car (thro’ observation window at rear of car) while train was travelling in the plains; Railway station, W.B.; Mr. [..?] & his prize dogs; A great dane at the N.T. dog show; Native Mutiny Veterans at Delhi; [Album 2]: Waterfall at Jubblepore; Wasp’s nest in tree, Naini Tal.