Beschreibung:

Photographers: W.L.H. Skeen & Co . (active in Ceylon 1860s - 1920), Charles T. Scowen (active in Ceylon 1870 - 1899) and unknown. Selected views of Ceylon. 1870s/1880s. 51 albumen prints. Each circa 22 x 28 cm and 28 x 22 cm. Most with photographer's name in the negative in lower left/right corner, mounted to board (edges time-stained, slightly warped), annotated in pencil in German below the images on the mount, bound in contemporary half leather album (spine torn, leather rubbed/torn, scuff marks) with gilt-stamped title Ceylon on front cover and ownership note Eigenthum von Dr. Franz Benecke Java 1892 on first album page. A very attractive collection of views of Ceylon showing landscapes, exotic fruits and trees, scenes with people, portraits and temples. Also includes a rare image of Queen Supayalat of Burma (1859 - 1925) and her attendants in exile in Ceylon where she became a Buddhist Priestess. – Some prints with light surface scuffing, some faded in edges, otherwise most in good to very good condition with rich strong tones. Lit.: Ludger Derenthal/Raffael Dedo Gadebusch/Katrin Specht (eds.). Das koloniale Auge. Frühe Porträtfotografie in Indien. Leipzig 2012, ill. p. 108 (Chetty man) and 148 (Tanpura player).