Sometimes photographs of unknown provenance come with a minimalist caption. In this case we are told that the subjects of this photograph - which dates from the late 1920s - are "Harold, Florence and Big Jimmy". Big Jimmy: could any name be more suitable?
Category: Pictures From Nowhere
The Porthcawl Ventriloquist
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
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?
