Edinburgh University, School of Literature, Language and Cultures, Celtic and Scottish Studies

2nd Year Lecture  -  March 3 2014

Ethnographic Photography and Postcards in Scotland

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

This talk was subsequently given to Colinton Literary Society on February 4, 2015 under the title

Old Photographs and Postcards of Scotland

For further details on any of the topics below, please see these pages:    Ethnographic Photography      Ethnographic Postcards

1

PHOTOGRAPHY

Early History

Page 1

2

PHOTOGRAPHY

Cameras and  Photos

Page 2

3

PHOTOGRAPHY

Photographic Societies

Page 3

4

PHOTOGRAPHY

Professional
Photographers

Page 4

5

POSTCARDS

Early History

Page 5

6

POSTCARDS

Postcard Use

Page 6

7

POSTCARDS

Publishers

Page 7

8

POSTCARDS

Views of Scotland

Page 8

 

Ethnographic Photography and Postcards in Scotland

Page 8

POSTCARDS

Views of Scotland

 

 

 

Ethnographic Postcards in Scotland

Views of Scotland

1.  Wells in the Scottish Countryside

2.  The Scottish Highlands

3.  Edinburgh

4.  Scottish Life and Character

1.

Wells

Jamie Wright's Well  -  Campsie Glen

Postcard  -  Jamie Wright's Well, Campsie Glen, Scotland

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Carol Stubbs

Longformacus  -  The Village Well

The figures add interest

Postcard  -  The Village Well, Longformarcus, Scotland

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Carol Stubbs

Culloden Moor  -  Well of the Dead

Here, the Chief of the MacGillivrays fell

Postcard  -   Well of the Dead, Culloden Moor, Scotland

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Carol Stubbs

Lochgoilhead  -  Moses' Well, Hell's Glen

The name is evocative.  Hand-tinted photo.  The stagecoach adds interest

Postcard  -  Moses' Well, Hell's Glen, Lochgilphead, Scotland

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Carol Stubbs

_________________________________

2.

The Scottish Highlands

Mountains

A River in the Highlands

Raphael Tuck  -  "Oilette Series"

Perhaps Raphael Tuck thought they would sell
more postcards if they did not name the river

Raphael Tuck's 'Oilette' postcard  -  A River in the Highlands

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Carol Stubbs

Glencoe, The Three Sisters

Raphael Tuck  -  "Oilette Series"

Have the heights of these mountains been exaggerated?

Raphael Tuck's 'Oilette' postcard  - Glencoe, The Three Sisters

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Carol Stubbs

The text on this postcard quotes from Dorothy Wordsworth's journal of 1803, about a century before this card was published.

" 'The Three Sisters', Glencoe:

The impression was as if the glen were nothing:  its loneliness and retirement.  The mountains were all in all.

Exceedingly lofty, rugged in surface, the whole mountain a mass of stone, wrinkled and puckered up together.  No trees in the glen - only pasturage for the cattle;  but the mountains."

 

In The Highlands

This is a British Postcard titled 'In the Highlands', implying presumably 'The Scottish Highlands'

The mountains and buildings look to me to be more like the Alps than the Scottish Highlands.

Postcard - In the Highlands  -  These do not look to me to be Scottish mountains

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Carol Stubbs

Highland Dress

Highland Foot-Post

This is a card in McIan's Highland Series

The location is not identified

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Margeorie Mekie

Shetland Peat Carriers

This card is one in Raphael Tuck's 'Oilette' series

"Bonnie Scotland" - Life in Shetland

The location is not identified

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Margeorie Mekie

In The Highlands

Valentine & Sons "Scottish Songs Series"

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Carol Stubbs

Reel o' Tulloch

Valentine & Sons  -  'Artotype Series'

The heather looks too bright to be true.  How many of these men would have
been dancing in the heather if there had been no camera around?

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Carol Stubbs

None of the cards that I have of highland dancers, pipers or highlanders in highland dress has any explanatory text on the back, and none gives any location.  The pictures are presumably intended to 'speak for themselves'.

The Sword Dance  -  Ghillie Callum

Valentine & Sons  -  'Artotype Series'

Like the postcard above from the same series, the colours
in this one appear to be rather too vivid to be true.

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Carol Stubbs

The Sword Dance

Valentine & Sons  -  'Pipers and Dancers Series'

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Carol Stubbs

For Scotland and Charlie

A postcard from the local photographer
J R Russell, Edinburgh  'Speedwell Series'

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Margeorie Mekie

Highland Chief

Costume of the XVII Century

The clan and location are not identified

Published by J R Russell, Edinburgh' -  Card with undivided back

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Margeorie Mekie

A Highland Chieftain

The clan and location are not identified

WR&S 'Reliable Series - Card with divided back

Published in WR&S 'Reliable Series - Card with divided back

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Margeorie Mekie

Highland Washing

A Highland Washing

A Court Card published by Valentine - c.1897-98

The location is not identified

Court Card published by Valentine  -  A Highland Washing

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Margeorie Mekie

A Highland Washing

A Valentine 'Artotype' Postcard. -  Posted 1909

The location is not identified

Valentine 'Artotype' Postcard  -  A Highland Washing

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Margeorie Mekie

A Scottish Washing

A Raphael Tuck 'Oilette' postcard  -  posted 1907

The location is not identified

Raphael Tuck 'Oilette' postcard  -  A Scottish Washing

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Margeorie Mekie

Scotch Washing in the Highlands

A 'National Series' postcard  -  not posted

The location is not identified

Postcard, 'National Series'  -  Scotch Washing in the Highlands

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Margeorie Mekie

_________________________________

3.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle

Raphael Tuck  -  "Scottish Castles Series"

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Carol Stubbs

Edinburgh Canongate

Raphael Tuck  -  "Oilette Series"

This is one of a series of postcards by Raphael Tuck in a series titled 'Old Edinburgh'

The artist is J Kinnear.  This series also includes views of old Edinburgh closes by Kinnear. 

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Carol Stubbs

Edinburgh

Newhaven

New Lane

Here are two photos, not identical but taken on the same occasion.  The same
 two ladies are in the foreground.  The children in the background have moved.
Different colours have been added to the sky, doors and clothing.

Newhaven, New Lane  -  Post Card by WR&R -  Reliable series -  enlarged

©  For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk   

New Lane

Newhaven, New Lane  -  Post card   -  Hartmann  -  enlarged

©  For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk   

New Lane

Here is the same street on a different occasion.

Newhaven Streets  -  New Lane

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to The Museum of Edinburgh

Fishwives

Four Generations

Four generations of Newhaven Fishwives

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to The Museum of Edinburgh

Fishermen

Baiting lines and chopping driftwood for fire wood

 Newhaven  -   Baiting lines and chopping driftwood for firewood

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to The Museum of Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Portobello

Portobello Pier  -  1

Hand-tinting in pastel shades has created a delicate atmosphere. 

Valentine Postcard of Portobello Pier -  Pastel Shades

©  Copyright: For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

Portobello Pier  -  2

Here, bolder colours have been applied, and the sea and sky look different.
But this is based on the same photo as above.  The figures are in the same positions.

Portobello Pier  -  A Valentine Postcard, published in the 1910s

©  Copyright: For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

Portobello Pier  -  3

People appear to have been added to this photo.
The waves are probably exaggerated.

A Rough Sea at Portobello  -  A view including Portobello Pier  -  A Valentine Postcard, based on a 1913 negative.

©  Copyright: For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

Portobello Pier  -  4

This is the same photo as above, but the pier has been taken away

Portobello Pier was built 1871, demolished 1917.

A Rough Sea at Portobello  -  A view without Portobello Pier  -  A Valentine Postcard, based on a 1913 negative.

©  Copyright: For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

Edinburgh Skies

Calton Hill

The next six photos all have the same or very similar skies ,even though some
were taken looking east and others looking to the west and in other directions.
 This view below looks to the NE towards Calton Hill.

This card was posted in 1913

Calton Hill and Rock House  -  Post Card  -  Holmes Real Photographic Series

© For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

Scott Monument

This view looks to the west along Princes Street towards the Scott Monument.
If any further proof is needed that the sky is not genuine, look at the shadows.
They face  almost to the north, even though the sun is in the west!

Princes Street, looking West  -  post card  -  Alex Anderson

©  Copyright: For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

North British Hotel

This view looks to the east along Princes Street towards the North British Hotel.
The monuments on Calton Hill can be seen in the background.

Princes Street, looking East - post card - Alex Anderson

©  Copyright: For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

Edinburgh Castle from The Grassmarket

Here, we look to the NW, across the Grassmarket
and up towards Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle from the Grassmarket  -  post card - Alex Anderson

©  Copyright: For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

St Giles Church

This view looks to the west down the High Street towards St Giles Church.
The Tron Kirk on the corner of South Bridge is in the background.

This card was posted in 1922

St Giles Cathedral  -  post card - Alex Anderson

©  Copyright: For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

Princes Street and Calton Hill from Edinburgh Castle

Here we look ENE down from Edinburgh Castle towards the National Galleries,
the Scott Monument and North British Hotel in Princes Street.

This card was posted in 1960

Looking ENE to Princes Street and Calton Hill from Edinburgh Castle  -  post card - Alex Anderson

©  Copyright: For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

Distorted Images

The Forth Bridge

Seen through a drunken haze

Albany Post Card No 3295  -  Painting  -  The Firth of Forth and Forth Rail Bridge

©  Copyright: For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

Waverley Steps on a Windy Day

Valentine Postcard  -  Posted 1936

Valentine's Postcard  - Waverley Steps  -  Posted 1936

©  Copyright: For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

_________________________________

 

4.

Scottish Life and Character

The Postcards

We end with five postcards from Raphael Tuck's "Oilette  - Scottish Life and Character Series" published in 1906 by Raphael Tuck.  They produced at least eight sets* of these cards with 6 cards in each set.

Below are a few of the cards, chosen because I found the text on them to be the most interesting amongst the ones that I've seen from these sets.

They are:

1.  The Workshop

2.  The Crofter's Grace

3.  A Quiet Pipe

  4.  Grannie's Cup of Tea

  5.  The Convalescent

The Artist

The cards below are based on paintings by the Dumfries & Galloway artist, Henry John Dobson ARCA RSW (1858-1928).   Most of the original Dobson cards are quite gloomy and dark indoor views, often of older family members.   I've reproduced these pictures a little brighter below.

 

1.

The Workshop

Raphael Tuck  -  "Oilette  -  Scottish Life and Character Series"

Raphael Tuck Postcard  -   'Oilette', Scottish Life and Character series  -  The Workshop

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Carol Stubbs

The Workshop

"This is the joiner's shop, a fascinating place with shadowy corners, the bewitching fitments of a carpenter's bench, a crisp carpet of shavings for small feet to scuffle and struggle through, and in invigorating smell of pine chips in the air.

Here are made homely chairs and tables, clogs and pattens, yokes for milk pales, chests for bride-linen, cradles and innumerable other articles."

 

2.

The Crofter's Grace

Raphael Tuck  -  "Oilette  -  Scottish Life and Character Series"

Raphael Tuck Postcard  -   'Oilette', Scottish Life and Character series  -  The Crofter's Grace

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Carol Stubbs

The Crofter's Grace

"Some hae meat that cannot eat
And some there be that want it,
But we hae meat and we can eat,
And sae the Lord be thankit."

3.

A Quiet Pipe

Raphael Tuck  -  "Oilette  -  Scottish Life and Character Series"

Raphael Tuck Postcard  -   'Oilette', Scottish Life and Character series  -  A Quiet Pipe

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Carol Stubbs

A Quiet Pipe

"One of the solaces of the hard-working Scottish peasant is a quiet pipe at his ain ingle nook.  He is not lavish in his use of matches but a glowing ember from the fire, skilfully inserted into the bowl of the pipe, serves equally well."

4

Grannie's Cup of Tea

Raphael Tuck  -  "Oilette  -  Scottish Life and Character Series"

Raphael Tuck Postcard  -   'Oilette', Scottish Life and Character series  -  Grannie's Cup of Tea

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Carol Stubbs

Grannie's Cup of Tea

"To-day 'the cup that cheers' is to be found in every homestead in Scotland, but years ago such was not the case.

Tea was used secretly and the tea caddy was hidden carefully.  The granny might be seen finding comfort in the tea cup, but trouble was in store for the peasant's wife who was discovered in such extravagant weakness."

5

The Convalescent

Raphael Tuck  -  "Oilette  -  Scottish Life and Character Series"

Raphael Tuck Postcard  -   'Oilette', Scottish Life and Character series  -  The Convalescent

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Carol Stubbs

The Convalescent

"Just recovering from a long illness, Jeannie is allowed to leave her bed and sit up in a chair. Everyone is kind to her and anxious to lighten the tedium of her convalescence.

Sometimes a neighbour's bairns come in and play with her, and when she is strong enough auld Donald calls, and with wild skirling on the pipes makes her quite forget her pain."

 

________________________________

End of Page 8

 

Edinburgh University, School of Literature, Language and Cultures, Celtic and Scottish Studies

2nd Year Lecture  -  March 3 2014

Ethnographic Photography and Postcards in Scotland

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

This talk was subsequently given to Colinton Literary Society on February 4, 2015 under the title

Old Photographs and Postcards of Scotland

For further details on any of the topics below, please see these pages:    Ethnographic Photography      Ethnographic Postcards

1

PHOTOGRAPHY

Early History

Page 1

2

PHOTOGRAPHY

Cameras and  Photos

Page 2

3

PHOTOGRAPHY

Photographic Societies

Page 3

4

PHOTOGRAPHY

Professional
Photographers

Page 4

5

POSTCARDS

Early History

Page 5

6

POSTCARDS

Postcard Use

Page 6

7

POSTCARDS

Publishers

Page 7

8

POSTCARDS

Views of Scotland

Page 8

 

__________________