Alfred Burgess photographs.

Today we look at a couple of cartes de visite – those small photos which people were able to use as calling cards. We do not know the people and whilst sometimes we are helped almost immediately with names it is less likely here, with photos well over the 100 years old.

Let’s start with this wasp waisted young lady.

This photo of a young lady may date from about 1900

The photographer is clearly stated on the front. In this case the back is plain in that same blue colour. The photo has been vignetted which means it has been faded away around the edges.

The clothing suggests a date of mid 1890s – but see below.

Our next photo is of two young lads.

Two young lads – possibly from the 1890s

This time the background has been retained and Mr Burgess has not got his name on the front. His information appears on the back.

A Burgess carte de visite – the back

Readers might like to know that the museum information is written in 2B pencil. It doesn’t fade but can be easily removed if for any reason the photo left the museum. Mr Burgess has provided us with a bit of help dating this one for we can compare this back with others shown at http://www.rogerco.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/time/time.htm . In this case we would estimate about 1890.

The photo of the lady, with the photographer name on the front, strongly suggests early 20^th century so perhaps our young lady wasn’t quite up with the latest fashions.

Tags: 1890-1905, Alf Burgess, carte de visite