Album Primavera

Album of mainly portraits in carte de visite and cabinet card format, including some hand-coloured, from the period circa 1860s-1880s by a range of photographers. Album is ornately bound in embossed leather with gilt edges, metal clasp with a patent date of 6 December 1881. The title page "Album Primavera" is illustrated with flowers and butterflies printed in colour with details highlighted in gilt. Selected leaves of the album are illustrated in similar style with fauna and flora printed in colour framing inserted photographic prints. Some captions inscribed on album pages most likely of a later date, include names of subjects transcribed from reverse of mounts.

Portraits include depictions of members of the Grace and Johnston families, including Dr Morgan Grace.

Includes photograph of a ship with the caption "H.M.S. 'Blanche', 6 guns, 1250 Tons & 350 Horse power, Captain J. E. Mongomerie. J. Bragge, Photo. Wellington, N.Z.".

Also portrait of a dog posed on a chair.

Includes portraits with the following photographer and studio imprints:

- Wrigglesworth & Binns, Wellington.

- Clifford Morris & Co, Royal Arcade, Dunedin.

- W H Clarke, Lambton Quay, Wellington.

- P Schourup, Christchurch.

- John Fergus, Largs.

- T Fall, 9 & 10 Baker Street, Portman Square, W [London].

- Hills & Saunders, London.

- Haes & Vandyk, 19 Westbourne Grove, London.

- Alexander MacNab, 98 West Nile Street, Glasgow.

Quantity: 1 album(s) 51 photographic prints, comprising 41 cartes de visite and 10 cabinet cards.

Physical Description: Album with 25 gilt-edged leaves bound in embossed leather metal clasp, with title and other selected pages illustrated with decorative flora and fauna ornamentation printed in colour with details highlighted in gilt, containing 51 photographic prints (41 cartes de visite and 10 cabinet cards), 29.5 x 24 cm.

Provenance: Donor is a descendant of Henrietta and John Johnston of Wellington.