Beschreibung:

Leather-bound photo book, 12 x 14.25 in., containing 36 albumen photographs, ranging in size from 4 x 6 in. to 9.5 x 11.5 in., most mounted recto on album pages. Research indicates that the photo book was created and owned by "The 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos" (1823-1889) who was the Governor of Madras Presidency from November 23, 1875 - December 20, 1880. Most titles are written in fine period ink in the lower margin. A few have been taken from the negative. While only one photograph is credited to "Penn" in the negative, we believe all of the government hill house exterior and interior images were likely taken by A.T.W. Penn. The Duke owned the Stowe House and the Wotton House, each located in Buckinghamshire, England, during the 1870s-1880s, and the album includes photographs of both stately homes. The 1876-80 inscription on the first plate is in line with the dates in which the Duke served as Governor of the Madras Presidency, providing further proof that he compiled this album. Assuming that the Duke traveled home in January of 1881, we believe the following occurred consecutively as the album progresses: The Duke left India by ship between 1880-1881. He traveled across the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Alden, through the Mandeb Strait and across the Red Sea, into the Gulf of Suez and the Suez Canal, where he ultimately ported at Cairo. From there he sailed across the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Messina to Naples, then Rome, then Pisa, then Florence, and upland to Milan for a final inland push across Switzerland and France, and finally home. All assertions based on research and the information within the album. It is believed that the Duke is posed in plate no. 8, as well as sleeping in a chair in plate no. 4. The album includes the following titles (most government house photographs believed to be by Penn unless noted otherwise): Government House. Ootacamund. Madras. 1876-80. (Stables. House of the Staff. Government House.); The Entrance Hall; Drawing Room; Boudoir; The Dining Room. The Verandah. Ootacamund, signed in plate by A.T.W. Penn; View from the Verandah of Government House; Beyond Fairlawns. Ootacamund; Picnic at Fernhill. Ootacamund. 1880; Untitled. (Similar to no. 8); Picnic at Fairlawns. Ootacamund. 1880; Government House. Guindy. near. Madras; The Dining Room. Government House. Madras; Badminton Ground. Ootacamund; The Ootacamund Hounds. 1880; The Pyramids. Egypt. Jany. 1881.; Ascending the Pyramid, by Bonfils; The Sphinx. Egypt, by Pascal Sebah; No. 47 Pyramides de Cheops, le Sphynx et le temple de Chafra, by Sebah; No. 39 Obelisque d'Heliopolis a Matarieh, by Sebah; 179. Jeune femme arabe, attributed to Sebah; 121. La statue de bois, by Sebah; 2 views of Naples, by Giacomo Brogi; Rome; The Colliseum. Rome; The leaning tower of Pisa. Jany. 1881, by Vam Niht (sp?); 3018. Firenze. Campanile di Gotto, by Brogi; Milan Cathedral. Jany. 1881; The Return to Stowe 1881, The Town Hall. Buckingham; The Buckingham Lodge. Stowe. (Welcome Home From Madras); The Stowe Avenue; North Front. Stowe; Aylesbury Lodge. Wotton. (Welcome Home From Madras); with 4 additional views of Wotton and the lodge (one with large banner that reads "Home Sweet Home"). A very important piece of British India history. Condition: The condition of the book is extremely good. There is very little foxing or staining, and the photos are all large format albumens in excellent condition with rich depth and and tone.