Felice Beato (circa 1830-circa 1904)

Including: one six-plate and one eight-plate panorama of Lucknow; a two-plate panorama of Hoosanabad; a portrait of Sir Colin Campbell, Sir William Mansfield and an unknown gentleman; and an extensive survey of the devastation of Lucknow including The Alumbagh Palace, the Dilkoosha Palace, La Martinière, Major Bank's house, the Kaiser Bagh, the Residency and the Sikander Bagh, including a study of the interior with skeletons of some of the 1700 slaughtered rebels, and two images of General Wheeler's entrenchment at Cawnpore. Albumen prints, mounted one to a page. A number signed in the negative, 16 signed in ink on the image. The majority with ink manuscript title, in some cases on pasted label above earlier manuscript title, and with later discursive manuscript text. Blue/black paper boards, with manuscript title label on upper cover.

Sotheby's London, 4th May 2000, Lot 12.

The spine torn but still holding together. The cover worn. The first page (support for 6 plate panorama) is detached; the panorama lightly but evenly faded overall. Album pages are thin cartridge paper, lightly creased throughout and at the beginning of the album with slight damage to edges; better later on. Pages lightly foxed on occasion. The prints in a remarkable state of preservation but with occasional spotting. The panoramas with slight signs of wear, notably at the joins. The majority of prints in excellent condition as to surface and colour. The best preserved prints have the rich, dark tones of perfect absence of sun damage.
"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."

Felice Beato arrived in India in January 1858 to record the last embers of the Indian Mutiny, the great rebellion which changed the nature of British rule in India and in so doing opened the era of decolonisation. Beato's was a quick eye as well as a refined one, and the studies in this album are among the first examples of photojournalism. His depictions of battle-scarred buildings and military positions are splendidly graphic. But Beato could also take a wider view, and the album contains wonderfully preserved panoramas of the whole city from high viewpoints. These provide a precious record of an architecture now mainly lost.

This fine and comprehensive collection of Lucknow images would appear to be printed from Beato's original negatives. It became the photographer's practice to make a copy negative from a fine first generation print, and many if not most surviving prints of his travels in India and the Far East are in fact printed from these copy negatives. He was obliged to do this because of the tendency of the collodion to peel from negatives made in the field. Prints from the original negatives are therefore most unusual. It is also very rare for the prints to be signed in ink by the photographer.

This lot qualifies as a book for VAT purposes.