PHOTOGRAPHY - PUNJAB


A collection of views in the Punjab, including Markunda, Mundi, Naggar and the Kullu Valley, Rohtang Pass to Ladakh, many relating to bridge engineering works, with a few portrait groups, 75 albumen prints mounted on album sheets (13 large images one per page, smaller 2 per page), mostly captioned in ink beneath image, 5 signed by W. Purdon, 2 signed by Major Wroughton, large approx. 180 x 210mm., others mostly 125 x 160mm., [c.1864-1865]
|PUNJAB IN THE 1860S - RARE GROUP OF GOOD AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHIC VIEWS, seemingly taken by an engineer participating in the building of the Punjab Railway, and/or the undertaking of the Geological Survey of the Punjab.Four exceptional images (185 x 245mm.) are signed by "W. Purdon", almost certainly the Purdon who was "Executive Engineer, Bridges and Branch Roads, Umballah" (mentioned in the Report on the Administration of the Punjab..., 1860-61). These comprise three fine views of a "Peepul Tree growing on an old wall, Umhalla", and "Engineer's Yard. Markunda Bridge Works" (illustrated). Another large image is captioned "Court House at (?) Jugadwar. Built by W. Purdon, C.E.", with 2 others of similar British colonial buildings.Others, seemingly relating to Purdon's engineering works, include: Koksur in Lahaul (10, including 5 of the new bridge "...opened Nov. 1863", and 4 of the old "Twig Bridge"); Makundra Bridge (9, showing the new bridge in various stages of construction, one dated 1865); Kullu Valley (including the palace at Naggar), Rohtang Pass and neighbouring landscapes (approx. 12, including "Bridge over the Beeas river", "...road towards Spiti", and "Narcundra Dak Bungalow. Hindostan & Thibet Road"; Mundi (5, including 2 sheet panorama captioned "City of Mundi. Himalayas"); Simla (3); the Mutiny Memorial at Cawnpore (2), groups (4, including "My Servants [10 men and a dog] Oct. 1864", and "Lucknow Christmas 1864").There are two images (180 x 230mm.) of Fazabad Oude (the mosque; gateway) captioned and signed "Major Wroughton". Wroughton (1797-1850), of the 69th Bengal Infantry, was the deputy Surveyor-General of India. These were presumably taken in the 1840s.