100 year old pics of the British Raj found in a shoebox in Edinburgh

**jhaji** · 03-25-2013, 01:44 AM

Nostalgia: Days of the Raj
A rare collection of photos that provide a glorious insight into a golden era gone by

A hitherto unknown collection of photographs capturing life and times of 1912 India has been discovered in a shoebox in Edinburgh.

The century-old collection of the Royal Commission of Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), includes rare and fragile glass plate negatives, which show life at the high point of the British Raj. The 178 negatives were found in a shoebox for a pair of grey, size 9, Peter Lord slip-on shoes, and were stored in their original five-by-eight-inch plate boxes, wrapped in copies of The Statesman newspaper dating back to 1914 (the newspaper was founded in 1875). Highlights from the imagery include celebrations for the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Calcutta in 1912, the only visit by a British monarch to India as Emperor of the subcontinent, with the city's buildings lit up at night in tribute; ships arriving at the Chandpal Ghat, the main landing place for visitors to Calcutta along the Hooghly river.

More...

Mareket · 03-25-2013, 03:32 AM

The one with the guys, the bears the monkeys and the goat is pretty grim but it's a good shot. Poor bears. Really interesting to see a bit of India pre-WWI.

**Kerrowdown** · 03-25-2013, 04:28 AM

Originally posted by jhaji

100 year old pics of the British Raj found in a shoebox in Edinburgh

Every now and then an amazing find, it's in good hands now with RCAHMS who will take care of these for future generations.

**jhaji** · 03-25-2013, 10:30 AM

Here's the yahoo link since the MSN one is already messed up/

Treasure in a Shoebox | Photo Gallery - Yahoo! News India

A little nostalgic because I see places I've been to and sight that are familiar.

Tom S. · 03-25-2013, 10:32 AM

I love looking at old photos like these. One amazing think about these is some of them could have been taken today, from what I've seen of other photos taken in India.

pickles · 03-25-2013, 02:58 PM

Very interesting.
Thank You, Pickles.

Racer X 69 · 03-25-2013, 03:54 PM

One very interesting thing to note. There is not a single smart phone in ay of those images.

Not one.

How did they ever get by without those stupid things?

Oh, and thanks for sharing this with us. Indeed, it is fun to see the world as it was in a different time, and at a different place.

Last edited by Racer X 69; 03-25-2013 at 04:00 PM.

Mareket · 03-26-2013, 10:11 AM

Originally posted by Racer X 69

One very interesting thing to note. There is not a single smart phone in ay of those images.

Not one.

How did they ever get by without those stupid things?

Preposterous, they've clearly had some grungy B&W filter applied in instagram.

Racer X 69 · 03-26-2013, 11:00 AM

Originally posted by Mareket

Preposterous, they've clearly had some grungy B&W filter applied in instagram.

03-25-2013, 01:44 AM	#1
jhaji Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,141	100 year old pics of the British Raj found in a shoebox in Edinburgh Nostalgia: Days of the Raj A rare collection of photos that provide a glorious insight into a golden era gone by A hitherto unknown collection of photographs capturing life and times of 1912 India has been discovered in a shoebox in Edinburgh. The century-old collection of the Royal Commission of Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), includes rare and fragile glass plate negatives, which show life at the high point of the British Raj. The 178 negatives were found in a shoebox for a pair of grey, size 9, Peter Lord slip-on shoes, and were stored in their original five-by-eight-inch plate boxes, wrapped in copies of The Statesman newspaper dating back to 1914 (the newspaper was founded in 1875). Highlights from the imagery include celebrations for the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Calcutta in 1912, the only visit by a British monarch to India as Emperor of the subcontinent, with the city's buildings lit up at night in tribute; ships arriving at the Chandpal Ghat, the main landing place for visitors to Calcutta along the Hooghly river. More...

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03-25-2013, 03:32 AM	#2
Mareket Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Chester Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 719	The one with the guys, the bears the monkeys and the goat is pretty grim but it's a good shot. Poor bears. Really interesting to see a bit of India pre-WWI.

03-25-2013, 04:28 AM	#3
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,818	Originally posted by jhaji 100 year old pics of the British Raj found in a shoebox in Edinburgh Every now and then an amazing find, it's in good hands now with RCAHMS who will take care of these for future generations.

03-25-2013, 10:30 AM	#4
jhaji Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,141 Original Poster	Here's the yahoo link since the MSN one is already messed up/ Treasure in a Shoebox \| Photo Gallery - Yahoo! News India A little nostalgic because I see places I've been to and sight that are familiar.

03-25-2013, 10:32 AM	#5
Tom S. Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 4,317	I love looking at old photos like these. One amazing think about these is some of them could have been taken today, from what I've seen of other photos taken in India.

03-25-2013, 02:58 PM	#6
pickles Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: melbourne Posts: 937	Very interesting. Thank You, Pickles.

03-25-2013, 03:54 PM	#7
Racer X 69 Moderator Man With A Camera Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: The Great Pacific Northwet, in the Land Between Canada and Mexico Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,067	One very interesting thing to note. There is not a single smart phone in ay of those images. Not one. How did they ever get by without those stupid things? Oh, and thanks for sharing this with us. Indeed, it is fun to see the world as it was in a different time, and at a different place. Last edited by Racer X 69; 03-25-2013 at 04:00 PM.

03-26-2013, 10:11 AM	#8
Mareket Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Chester Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 719	Originally posted by Racer X 69 One very interesting thing to note. There is not a single smart phone in ay of those images. Not one. How did they ever get by without those stupid things? Preposterous, they've clearly had some grungy B&W filter applied in instagram.

03-26-2013, 11:00 AM	#9
Racer X 69 Moderator Man With A Camera Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: The Great Pacific Northwet, in the Land Between Canada and Mexico Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,067	Originally posted by Mareket Preposterous, they've clearly had some grungy B&W filter applied in instagram.