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A & G Taylor and other photographers named Taylor |
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1. A & G Taylor |
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Studios throughout Britain Andrew Taylor and George Taylor created a chain of studios in about 70 towns and Cities throughout Britain. Both A&G Taylor, and Brownes Barnes & Bell, claimed to be “The Largest Photographer in the World” [OM:AC] A&G Taylor were Photographers to the Queen. The Royal Warrant was granted in 1886. [PH:AGT]. A&G Taylor opened studios in London in 1864 or possibly 1866. By 1878, the year they opened the Edinburgh studio at 63 Princes Street, they also had studios in: - Birmingham - Carnarvon - Dublin - Glasgow - Leeds - Liverpool - Manchester - Newcastle. The following year, the company opened studios in: - Paris - USA. The company exhibited two photographs at the 1890 EPS Exhibition. Their Edinburgh studio remained at 63 Princes Street until 1910, the year before George Taylor died. In 1911, 63 Princes Street became the premises of Durie, Brown & Co "Postcards, Printing, Stationery & Fountain Pen Depôt". On the back of their cabinet prints, they advertised: "Artists in Platinotype, Bromide and Carbon" |
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Bibliography The Historical Group of the Royal Photographic Society has produced a series of brief supplements in their PhotoHistorian series, listing the early photographers in several towns and cities around Britain. Also in this series is a booklet by Colin Osman ISSN 0957-0209 entitled: "The Studios of A&G Taylor - The Largest Photographers in the World" Details and prices of all booklets in the PhotoHistorian series can be obtained from Warner Schmidt, ARPS, PO Box 28, Estree, Herts, WD6 4ST England. |
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I have many cabinet prints and cartes de visite from the studios of A & G Taylor, including several from their Edinburgh studio. Those from their Edinburgh studio have 'Edinburgh' as the most prominent name on the back. I have not yet had chance to add most of my cabinet prints and cartes de visite to the EdinPhoto web site. However, I found this one to be interesting because of the J P Rogerson name added to the back of the picture with an ink stamp. The back below is a style used by A & G Taylor in the 1890s. Might J P Rogerson have been employed by A & G Taylor as a photographer during this period? Or might J P Rogerson merely be the name of the sitter or the owner of the photo?
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Cartes de Visite - Dates The following guidance for confirming the dating of cartes de visite by A & G Taylor has been provided by Colin Osman in his publication: PhotoHistorian supplement: The Studios of A & G Taylor.
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On the backs of their cartes de visite, A & G Taylor listed the towns in which they had studios . The towns were usually listed in two columns, 1878-79 [Should this be 1878-89?]; three columns in the 1890s. American Branches and Paris only appear after 1879. |
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Photos See Cartes de Visite by Edinburgh Photographers for an example of one of A&G Taylor's cartes de visite. |
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Enlargements |
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From 1875 Cheap framed enlargements became popular in the second half of the 1870s. A & G Taylor quickly set up branches throughout Britain, and started selling packages comprising a framed enlargement and 12 cartes de visite for 30 shillings (=£1.50) payable at the rate of one shilling a week. Some local photographers sold similar packages with varying degrees of success. Audrey Linkman: Your Family Tree, November 2006, p.53 |
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2. Miss Ann Taylor |
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Miss Ann Taylor joined PSS in 1857-58. She was a Portrait Painter who appeared as a photographer in the trade directories for three years – 1858 to 60. However, Mrs (not Miss) Taylor was listed in the Glasgow trade directories from 1861 to 1864. Was this, perhaps, the same photographer? Miss Ann Taylor exhibited in: - 1856 PSS Exhibition (one coloured collodion portrait) - 1858 PSS Exhibition (16 collodion and 3 coloured glass positives) - 1864 Exhibition (1 photograph) |
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Photographs in Exhibitions 1839 to 1865 |
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Other Photographers |
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One of the new members of Edinburgh Photographic Society in 1884-85 was Herbert W Bibbs. He gave his address as 63 Princes Street, possibly indicating that he was employed by A&G Taylor who had a studio at that address for many years. |