Talk to Edinburgh University - Celtic and Scottish Studies

The Cost of Photography

'Old Money and New Money'

1971

In 1971, Britain converted to decimal currency £ p (pounds, new pence)

Previously, the currency had been £ s d (pounds, shillings, pence).

£ s d is the currency quoted throughout the tables on this page.

Conversion Rates

Here are decimal equivalents of the 'old money':

6d. (sixpence) = £0.025

1s. 0d. or 1/- (a shilling) = £0.05 or 5p

2s. 6d or 2/6 (half a crown) = £0.125 or 12.5p

£1 1s. 0d. or £1 1/- (one guinea) = £1.05 or £1 and 5

2. Inflation - Conversion Table
Equivalent Values Today - Feb 2007 of some of the prices charged in earlier years:
Year	Sixpence 6d	Shilling 1s 0d	Pound £1
1840	£1.84	£3.67	£73
1850	£2.43	£4.86	£97
1860	£2.18	£4.35	£87
1870	£2.15	£4.29	£86
1880	£1.98	£3.96	£79
1890	£2.32	£4.63	£93
1900	£2.20	£4.41	£88
1910	£2.12	£4.24	£85
1920	£0.79	£1.58	£32
1930	£1.16	£2.32	£46
1940	99p	£1.98	£40
1950	62p	£1.24	£25
1960	42p	85p	£17
1970	28p	55p	£11
1980	8p	15p	£3.05
1990	4p	8p	£1.58
2000	3p	6p	£1.24
Sources used to compile the table above: Safaira's Web site (1840-2003) + UK RPI (2003-2007)

3. Studio Portraits - From 1849
Some of the early press adverts for photographic studios in Edinburgh give the prices charged for studio portraits.. Here are a few examples.
1849
James Howie	First size	1s. 6d Equivalent to over £7 today. See table above.
	Second size	2s. 6d
	Third size	4s. 0d
	Fourth size	7s. 6d
Sotires Georgiades	Smallest size	5s 6d
	middle size	8s 6d
	largest size	15s. 6d
	Family Groups	higher prices
1854
James Howie
	First size	3s. 6d
	Second size	6s 0d
	Third size	10s 0d
1855
James Howie
	Prices from ...	1s 0d
	Handsome Portrait in Morocco Case	3s 6d
John Moffat	Prices from ...	2s. 6d
1856
Truefitt Brothers	Prices from ....	2s. 6d
1857
G & D Hay	Prices from ...	2s. 6d
1857
J G Tunny	Calotype portraits of civic dignitaries	4s. 6d
J G Tunny	Calotype views	5s. 6d
1867
Tunny & Asher
	Enamel Cartes-de-Visite	6s. 0d / dozen
	The lately fashionable Cabinet Portraits	4s. 0d each

Cartes de Visite

Tollcross

Up to 1855, most early Edinburgh studios were based in Princes Street.

However, from 1860 onwards, they had spread out across Central Edinburgh.

Alex Ayton set up his studio at North Bruntsfield Place, Bruntsfield Links, near Tollcross.

Alex Ayton

Studios: From 1875

Here are the fronts and backs of two cartes de visite, possibly from around the 1880s. They are on heavier card than early cartes de visite, and have more elaborate backs. The protective tissue paper is still attached to the second photo, which is unusual.

Philip E Low

Portobello

Many studios were established in Portobello in the late 19th century and early 20th century, catering for the holiday visitors. Here is a cabinet print from one of these studios.