India--[W.M.?]

4to (264 x 210mm.), 53 albumen prints (from 152 x 193mm. to 190 x 244mm.), individually mounted on card, recto only, most numbered and signed with a monogram in the negative by an unidentified photographer (WM?), each captioned in pencil on the mount, together with 2 loose cartes-de-visite: one of Captain E.H. Bellairs and his daughter Cassandra (see provenance) and another of an unidentified gentleman (the Rev. Cook?), nineteenth-century diced calf gilt by J.R. Brooks of London, upper cover with gilt monogram 'E.C.', flat spine gilt, gilt edges, brass clasp and catch, preserved in a nineteenth century cloth box, some old stains and light spotting, one print with old tears (occurred before mounting), upper joint starting

Presented "To the Rev^d. Edward Cook M.A., from Edmund & William Bellairs, in memory of a kind deed. October 1863", ink inscription on preliminary blank. The Bellairs's father, Sir William of Mulbarton, Norfolk, who had served in the Peninsula war and at Waterloo, died in October 1863, so this gift might be related to that event.

Edmund Hooke Wilson Bellairs (1823-98) served in the British army, retiring in 1852 with the rank of captain; he then lived in New Zealand where he was appointed a member of the Upper House of the first parliament (1853-56), and later lived mainly in Biarritz, France where he was Vice-Consul. His brother Major-General Sir William Bellairs (1823–1913) had a distinguished military career, which included service throughout the Crimean war, and in South Africa.

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."

A FINE ALBUM OF EARLY PHOTOGRAPHS OF INDIA, with a distinguished provenance, most with a good tonal range. The images, which appear to have been taken by a skilled amateur photographer, include views of waterfalls, temples, forts, palaces, gateways, and landscapes in 'Rewah', 'Chutterpore', 'Churkaree', 'Mirzapore', 'Banda', 'Chunar', 'Nagoda', 'Punnah', 'Kalijir', 'Bharighar', and 'Mussoorie'. In addition to these views there is a an image of 'The Nagoda Chief in Durbar'; a scene of weighing cotton in Mirzapore, and an image captioned 'Our garden at Kingscraig, Mussorie'.