Description: |
This early photograph album was compiled by George S. Cundell (1798–1882), a Scottish banker and amateur photographer. It contains 98 salted paper prints made from calotype negatives between 1842 and 1856. The creators of the photographs are not identified; the album is likely a collection of photographs made by Cundell, at least one of his brothers, and his associates in the Edinburgh Calotype Club. Two albumen prints, also by unidentified photographers, were laid into the album later, for a total of 100 photographs.
The photographs in the Cundell album vary in style and subject matter. They include portraits, landscapes, architectural studies, art reproductions, and photograms. The album contains scenes of Edinburgh, Oxford, and York, as well as views of London’s Houses of Parliament and its financial district, including the Mansion House and Finsbury Circus. Inscriptions in the album identify several sitters with the surname Munby, related to Cundell through the marriage of two Munby sisters to two of his own brothers.
Cundell was based in London through most of his life but maintained close ties to Edinburgh, the town of his birth. He is not known to have exhibited his photographs in his lifetime. His most significant contribution to the nascent field of photography was through his essay “On the Practice of the Calotype Process of Photography,” published in The London, Edinburgh and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science in 1844. His essay clearly explained William Henry Fox Talbot’s calotype process, encouraging a host of readers to take up the new art.
This album is part of the Gernsheim Collection that was purchased by the Harry Ransom Center in 1963. Compilation of the album was attributed to Cundell by the Gernsheims, and several leaves of the album bear inscriptions, in pencil, in Helmut Gernsheim’s hand. Item-level information follows.
964:0310:0001 -- [View of rooftops], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print with applied color, 10.4 x 15.7 cm; 964:0310:0002 -- Carlton Terrace--St. James's Park, [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 9.8 x 13.6 cm; 964:0310:0003 -- [Man, seated, with walking stick], [between circa 1860 and 1882]. Albumen print, 15.8 x 11.5 cm; 964:0310:0004 -- Houses of Parliament -- Westminster, [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 12 x 10.8 cm; 964:0310:0005 -- [Row of houses], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 9 x 13.5 cm; 964:0310:0006 -- [Two women, seated on lawn, with man], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 10.2 x 13.6 cm; 964:0310:0007 -- [Man, leaning on fence, with two women], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 10.2 x 13.5 cm; 964:0310:0008 -- [Man posing in front of railway office], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 9.8 x 13.3 cm; 964:0310:0009 -- Kingston on Thames, [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 7.4 x 10.9 cm; 964:0310:0010 -- [Man lounging in chair], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 11.4 x 7.5 cm; 964:0310:0011 -- [Men seated at outdoor table], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 10.6 x 7.3 cm; 964:0310:0012 -- [Pile of baskets on pier, row of houses behind], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 11 x 15.2 cm; 964:0310:0013 -- Mansion House -- London, [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 7.5 x 11 cm; 964:0310:0014 -- [Man and four women standing and seated outside of a building], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 10 x 10 cm; 964:0310:0015 -- [Man, seated, profile view], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.5 x 6.9 cm; 964:0310:0016 -- [Man, seated, 3/4 view], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.3 x 6.9 cm; 964:0310:0017 -- [Woman, seated, 3/4 view], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 6.2 x 5.3 cm; 964:0310:0018 -- [Three men seated and standing around a table], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 10 x 8.2 cm; 964:0310:0019 -- [Three men with a woman holding a guitar], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 11 x 11.8 cm; 964:0310:0020 -- [Statue of mother and child], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 16.3 x 10.3 cm; 964:0310:0021 -- [Statue of Neptune(?)], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 9.6 x 7.3 cm; 964:0310:0022 -- [Woman, with child on lap, and man], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 9.5 x 7.3 cm; 964:0310:0023 -- [Man, seated, holding watch], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 7.8 x 5.5 cm; 964:0310:0024 -- [Man lounging on chairs outdoors], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 7.5 x 8.2 cm; 964:0310:0025 -- [Man and woman at table], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 10 x 8.2 cm; 964:0310:0026 -- [Man with child on lap]. , [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 7.7 x 6 cm; 964:0310:0027 -- [Woman in bonnet], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 4.3 x 3.3 cm; 964:0310:0028 -- [Woman, seated, reading], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 5.9 x 4.5 cm; 964:0310:0029 -- [Woman reading at table], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.3 x 8.3 cm; 964:0310:0030 -- [Woman with infant lying on lap], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 9.1 x 6.7 cm; 964:0310:0031 -- [Woman holding edge of book], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 14.1 x 11.2 cm; 964:0310:0032 -- [Two men at table], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.7 x 8.5 cm; 964:0310:0033 -- [Two woman, seated, facing each other], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 10 x 8.6 cm; 964:0310:0034 -- [Woman reading a book], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 9.9 x 8.2 cm; 964:0310:0035 -- [Portrait of young man], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.9 x 7.7 cm; 964:0310:0036 -- [Two women, seated, with girl], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 9.5 x 12 cm; 964:0310:0037 -- [Man seated at table with books], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 11.2 x 8.5 cm; 964:0310:0038 -- [Engraving by unidentified artist], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 9.7 x 13.6 cm; 964:0310:0039 -- [Feathers], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 7 x 10.5 cm; 964:0310:0040 -- Oxford, [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.8 x 12.8 cm; 964:0310:0041 -- Oxford, [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 9.9 x 12.9 cm; 964:0310:0042 -- [Boy, seated in chair], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 10 x 7.4 cm; 964:0310:0043 -- [Girl wearing bonnet, seated in chair], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.5 x 6.2 cm; 964:0310:0044 -- Oxford, [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.9 x 10.9 cm; 964:0310:0045 -- Oxford, [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 10.7 x 13.2 cm; 964:0310:0046 -- Oxford, [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 13 x 10.2 cm; 964:0310:0047 -- [Lace, feathers, and other specimens], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 11 x 17.9 cm; 964:0310:0048 -- Ely Cathedral, [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.8 x 13.9 cm; 964:0310:0049 -- [Woman with child on lap], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.8 x 7.3 cm; 964:0310:0050 -- St. Mary's Abbey, York, [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 10 x 15 cm; 964:0310:0051 -- Micklegate Bar, York, [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 10.7 x 14 cm; 964:0310:0052 -- Naworth Castle, [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 10.7 x 13.5 cm; 964:0310:0053 -- Houses of Parliament, [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 6.2 x 15.7 cm; 964:0310:0054 -- [Woman, seated, reading], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.5 x 7 cm; 964:0310:0055 -- [Girl sitting in chair], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 9 x 6.7 cm; 964:0310:0056 -- [Rome, after engraving by unidentified artist], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 9.6 x 16.7 cm; 964:0310:0057 -- [Two women in bonnets], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 9.8 x 11.3 cm; 964:0310:0058 -- [Engraving by unidentified artist], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 6.4 x 9.2 cm; 964:0310:0059 -- [Five children and a woman on blanket], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.8 x 11.5 cm; 964:0310:0060 -- [Two boys, posing], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.8 x 6.3 cm; 964:0310:0061 -- [Two girls, seated, holding doll], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 9 x 2.7 cm; 964:0310:0062 -- [Engraving by unidentified artist], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.6 x 10.9 cm; 964:0310:0063 -- [Portrait of a girl, seated, profile view], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 7.8 x 6.3 cm; 964:0310:0064 -- [Portrait of two children with chair], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.8 x 7 cm; 964:0310:0065 -- [Woman holding child on lap], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8 x 6.9 cm; 964:0310:0066 -- [Woman holding boy and girl on lap], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 10.8 x 8.5 cm; 964:0310:0067 -- [Herbert Lundell], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 10.3 x 6.5 cm; 964:0310:0068 -- [Woman holding boy on lap], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.9 x 7.3 cm; 964:0310:0069 -- [Portrait of man, profile view], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 6.5 x 4.8 cm; 964:0310:0070 -- [Farm buildings and field], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 7.3 x 10 cm; 964:0310:0071 -- [Girl seated in chair], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 7.5 x 5.8 cm; 964:0310:0072 -- [Engraving by unidentified artist], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 4.8 x 6.8 cm; 964:0310:0073 -- [Architectural ruins], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.8 x 10.6 cm; 964:0310:0074 -- [Engraving by unidentified artist], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 4.5 x 8 cm; 964:0310:0075 -- [Cathedral entrance], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.8 x 10.2 cm; 964:0310:0076 -- Hampton Court, [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 7.8 x 12.4 cm; 964:0310:0077 -- [Bridge and fortifications, partial view], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 11.3 x 15.9 cm; 964:0310:0078 -- [George S. Cundell], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 9.7 x 7.7 cm; 964:0310:0079 -- [Portrait of man wearing glasses], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 10.8 x 9 cm; 964:0310:0080 -- [Man, seated at table, with book], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 11.8 x 9.7 cm; 964:0310:0081 -- [Group of men and women outdoors], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 9.2 x 10.6 cm; 964:0310:0082 -- [Engraving by unidentified artist], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 10.2 x 3.6 cm; 964:0310:0083 -- [Engraving by unidentified artist], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 11 x 4.3 cm; 964:0310:0084 -- [G. Munby], 1842. Salted paper print, 12.3 x 9 cm; 964:0310:0085 -- [Portrait of man, profile view], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 9.4 x 7.8 cm; 964:0310:0086 -- Finsbury Circus, [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 11 x 14 cm; 964:0310:0087 -- [Engraving by unidentified artist], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 9.6 x 13 cm; 964:0310:0088 -- [Three women seated outdoors], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 6.6 x 10 cm; 964:0310:0089 -- [G. Munby seated before two women], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 10.8 x 11.6 cm; 964:0310:0090 -- [Portrait of man, 3/4 view], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.4 x 6.2 cm; 964:0310:0091 -- [Portrait of man], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.2 x 6.1 cm; 964:0310:0092 -- [George and Fred Munby], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 9.2 x 6.8 cm; 964:0310:0093 -- [Joseph and Arthur Munby], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.5 x 8.5 cm; 964:0310:0094 -- Clisson, [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 10.3 x 15.3 cm; 964:0310:0095 -- [G. Munby holding a flower], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 11 x 8.6 cm; 964:0310:0096 -- [Portrait of G. Munby, 3/4 view], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.6 x 7.2 cm; 964:0310:0097 -- [Three women], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 10 x 7.5 cm; 964:0310:0098 -- [Clifton Holme], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 13.2 x 19.2 cm; 964:0310:0099 -- [Portrait of woman with hands clasped], [between 1842 and 1847]. Salted paper print, 8.4 x 5.2 cm; 964:0310:0100 -- [Row of houses], [between circa 1860 and 1882]. Albumen print, 11 x 17.6 cm. |
Item(s): |
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