James
Valentine
Publishing Business
|
|
1815 |
Birth of James Valentine. |
|
1851 |
James Valentine adds portrait photography to his business. |
|
1855 |
Large photographic glasshouses built. |
|
1860s |
Topographical Views of Scotland produced.
Photos: 4"x3", 8"x6",
12"x8" sold individually or in albums. Also stereo views.
PRICES
8"x6" was Cabinet size. These sold
for one shilling (£0.05) each.
12"x8" was Imperial size. These sold
for two shillings £0.10) each.
Valentines also sold albums with
photographs paseted in, at prices ranging from 2 Gns (£2.20) to 5 Gns
(£5.25). |
|
1879 |
James died.
Succeeded by sons William Dobson (1844-1907) +
George Dobson (1852-1890). |
|
1884 |
George emigrates to New Zealand
- After concentrating on portrait studio work,
George emigrated to New Zealand in ill health. There he became a
landscape photographer, leaving William to take control of the landscape
business in Dundee. |
|
1886 |
William running the business - now employing 100
workers. |
|
1897 |
Began to produce postcards - now employing 1,000
workers. |
|
1907 |
Employing 40 artists for retouching views.
Many items were added to or removed from
Valentine's postcard views. |
|
1923 |
Overseas Branches sold. |
|
1929 |
Portrait side of the business sold. |
|
1937 |
Expansion. New factory built at Kingsway, Dundee. |
|
1950s |
Greetings Card business becoming more important than postcards. |
|
1963 |
Taken over by Waddington & Co Ltd.. |
|
1967 |
Last monochrome postcards published. |
|
1971 |
Archive of Valentine's monochrome views passed to St Andrew's University. |
|
1980 |
Sold to Hallmark Cards Inc. |
|
1994 |
Valentine's Dundee factory closed. |
|
Acknowledgements:
1. Booklet: 'University of St Andrews
Valentine Collection'
[published by St Andrew's University Library]
2. Article ' Scraps & Stereos' by Roddy
Simpson, published in The Scots Magazine (July 2003, pp.88-92) - for
the prices charged for Valentine's photographs in the 1860s. |