Ceylon--Bois, Frederic William and Winifred.

4to (260 x 204mm.), 173 platinum prints (65 prints: 152 x 203mm; 108 prints: from 82 x 82mm. to 107 x 150mm.) and 2 albumen prints (82 x 82mm.), all but 7 photographs mounted, mostly one or two to a side, recto and verso, nearly all by F.W. Bois and captioned in ink on the page, a few by W. Bois, 29pp. of manuscript journal in ink by W. Bois, contemporary green cloth, upper cover stamped in gilt 'Ceylon'

Winifred Bois (signed and dated 1906)

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

F.W. Bois (1848-1921) was a highly proficient amateur photographer, who exhibited at the Paris Exhibition of 1900. He was the second of four brothers whose family had held a prominent place in the mercantile life of Ceylon since the 1860s. The photographs show views of Kandy and Colombo, colonial houses and family members, native people and villages, tea plantations and factories, street scenes, temples, bridges and sculptures, boats, fishermen and scenes of pearl divers. W. Bois's journal describes family trips by motor car, descriptions of Ceylon and a fascinating detailed account of pearl fishing with both Indian and Arab pearl divers from the Gulf. (2 other albums of photographs of Ceylon by F.W. Bois, with his bookplate, were sold in these rooms, 4 November 2010, lot 23). See also lot 118 in this sale.