This is a scan of a tiny print from an equally tiny album of photographs taken in Wales in the early 1930s. This particular print is captioned "The Ventriloquist, Porthcawl : Whit Monday 1932". "Tommy Porthcawl" - whose real name was Sydney Valentine - was famous for his sketches and ventriloquist act on Porthcawl beach … Continue reading The Porthcawl Ventriloquist
Category: Pictures From Nowhere
Sitting On A Boat
Two people sat on a boat (I don't know who they are) in a harbour (I don't know where it is), a long time ago (I don't know exactly when). Despite all the unknowns, the picture is a treat.
Turning Up The Prince Of Wales
This little albumen carte-de-visite of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (who was later to become King Edward VII) turned up in a job lot of old Victorian prints I bought the other week. It dates from about 1862 and comes from the Paris studios of Emile Desmaisons. The print is now over 150 years old … Continue reading Turning Up The Prince Of Wales
Who Is Crossing The North Sea?
One of the most difficult challenges with old photograph albums is identifying the albums creator, as - by definition in those pre-smart phone days - the photographer rarely features in the photographs themselves. In the 1925 Northern Capitals album, there is an intriguing series of photographs taken whilst the cruise ship was "crossing the North … Continue reading Who Is Crossing The North Sea?
Northern Capitals 16 : Arrival In Oslo
The caption under this photograph states "Oslo and the SS City Of Nagpur from the mountains". The camera lens clearly was not up to the challenge: either that or the ship has sunk beneath the sepia waves. This time the caption says "Carl Johans Gate, Oslo - with the Grand Hotel". I instantly recognised … Continue reading Northern Capitals 16 : Arrival In Oslo
Between A Rock And A Hard Place
A group pose for a picture - their identity and the location has long since faded into obscurity. Wherever they are, they are caught between a rock and a hard place, with the sun shining down
First Cousin To An Impression
Unknown Man On A Hill (1920s) The older the photo, the less detail it conveys, the more dust and scratches it has acquired: all of these often conspire together to lift a photographic image to another level, so it becomes first cousin to an impression.
Clinging To The Mast
Clinging To The Mast - Unknown Man On A Boat (1930s) Whoever he is, he doesn't exactly look happy to be at sea. And why is he balanced on the edge of the boat, clinging to the mast?
Striding To Sherman’s Studio
Unknown Soldier : Studio Of George Sherman, Great Yarmouth (1880s/90s) He stands so upright, you can almost imagine him marching into the Pier Studios in Great Yarmouth. Photograph taken, he marches out again - striding towards his future.
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