Artist Index: India

Sri Ganga Singh, Maharajah of Bikaner. 1935. Vintage gelatin silver print. 31,4 x 20,8 cm. Signed and dated by the sitter in ink in lower right on recto, flush-mounted to board (traces of previous mounting on mount verso), annotated in pencil by another hand, photographer's studio stamp on mount verso.

This photograph shows Sri Ganga Singh Bahadur (1880-1943), the Maharaja of Bikaner, known for his progressive reforms and military leadership, including commanding the Bikaner Camel Corps during World War I. He played a significant role on the international stage, representing India at the Imperial War Cabinet and the League of Nations, leaving a lasting legacy through his contributions to his state and the Indian independence movement. – Slightly soiled with some edge wear, pressure marks, and a crease in the upper left corner, otherwise in good condition.

Photographer: John Burke and William Baker (1843-1900, dates unknown), John Edward Saché (1824-1882). Views of India. 1870s. 11 albumen prints. Each 20,7 x 28 cm and smaller. Several with photographer's name and number in the negative in lower corners.

Some with surface rubbing/scratching, a few small tears, a few with foxing, traces of previous mounting on the verso, otherwise in good condition and several with strong tones.

Photographer: Charles Shepherd (active 1858-1878), John Murray (1809-1898) and unknown. The Durbar of 1877 or the so-called “Delhi Proclamation”. 24 large-format albumen prints. Most ca. 22 x 27 cm. Mounted to board (slightly warped, some light foxing), titled in ink (2 colors) below the images on mount.



The Delhi Proclamation, also known as the Royal Proclamation, marked a pivotal moment in British India‘s history, signifying a major shift in British governance of the Indian subcontinent. Although Queen Victoria declared herself Empress of India during this event, she was not physically present in Delhi. The proclamation was delivered by Lord Lytton, representing the Queen, and was read in both English and Urdu. In this proclamation, Queen Victoria expressed her intention to adopt the title of Quaisar-i-Hind, reaffirming its permanence. She also emphasized her concern for the welfare, health, and religious freedom of her subjects. However, the Durbar ultimately served as a declaration of imperial authority, reinforcing the Indian people‘s status as subjects of the British Empire. The collection includes several large group portraits from 1875 featuring high-ranking military officers and colonial officials. Additionally, two photographs depict the Prince of Wales and his staff in Bombay and Lahore, while two more photos taken by John Murray in 1859 showcase Indian monuments. – Some prints slightly faded in edges, otherwise most in good condition.

Provenance: Günter Heil Collection

Lit.: Julie F. Codell (Ed.). Power and Resistance - The Delhi Coronation Durbars 1877-1903-1911. (The Alkazi Collection of Photography) Mapin 2012.

Photographer: W. & D. Downey. The Maharaja of Kuch Behar 1900. Woodburytype. 14 x 9,3 cm. Annotated in pencil on the verso.

In very good condition.

Photographer: Felice Beato (attributed to, 1834-1909) and Samuel Bourne. The Qutub Minar, Delhi and other views of India. 1860s. 6 albumen prints. 28,5 x 24,5 cm and 23 x 30 cm. 5 with photographer's name in the negative and mounted to board.

Qutub Minar print with some handling marks, tear with paper loss upper right corner, small tear in right edge, crease in lower left corner, other prints with surface rubbing/scratching, time-staining in edges.

Provenance: From the Dr. William Ehrenfeld collection.

Lit.: Ulrich Pohlmann/Dietmar Siegert (eds.). Samuel Bourne - Sieben Jahre Indien. Munich 2001, ill. p. 64, 196.

Photographer: Samuel Bourne. Views of India. 1860s. 5 albumen prints. 29,5 x 24 cm and 23 x 29 cm. Each with photographer's name and number 1028, 1221,1223, 1233 in the negative in lower corners, each mounted to board.

Some with surface rubbing/scratching, time-staining in edges, otherwise in good condition.

Provenance: From the Dr. William Ehrenfeld collection.

Lit.: Ulrich Pohlmann/Dietmar Siegert (eds.). Samuel Bourne - Sieben Jahre Indien. Munich 2001, ill. p. 159, 170.

Photographer: Samuel Bourne (1834-1912), William Henry Pigou (1818-1858) and unknown. Landscapes and temples of India. 1857-1870s. 16 albumen prints. Most circa 27 x 35 cm and smaller. Most mounted to board (5 loose).

The images include the Temple of Dumbul by W.H. Pigou, the Temple of Fatehpur Sikri by S. Bourne, Dunkar Spiti, 4 images of the Taj Mahal, the Taj Tomb in Agra, the burning Ghat, Calcutta and Benares as well as temple ruins. This group also includes a fine portrait of H.H. Vibhoji Ranmalji (1827-1895), Jam Sahib of Jamnagar, Gujarat, India by Rohit Sonkiya. – A few with light foxing, some scuff marks, some crease marks, otherwise several with strong contrasts and in good condition.

German souvenir album of a trip to India (Bombay, Calcutta), Rangoon, Manila, Tsingtau and Japan. 1912/13. 78 vintage gelatin silver prints. Most 8 x 10,5 cm. Mounted to album boards (faded in edges, some tears), captions in white ink in German above/below images, bound in paper album (edges frayed).

Some photos faded, some with glue stains in corners from verso, otherwise many in good condition.

Photographer: Willoughby Wallace Hooper (1837 - 1912) (2), Francis Frith & Co. (1865 - 1893) (3), Shepherd & Robertson (1), Col. Thomas Biggs (1822 - 1905) (2), Dorabjee Padumjee (2)and unknown. Landscapes, temples and village scenes of India. 1855 - 1890s. 21 albumen prints. Various sizes, most circa 18 x 24 cm. Most annotated in pencil on the verso.

One image shows an outdoor missionary school, Indian village scenes, one with an old locomotive, two landscapes and cave temples by Frith as well as a group portrait by Shepherd and Robertson. – Some slightly faded, light handling marks, some curled, otherwise in good condition.

Provenance: Günter Heil Collection

Medal of the Photographic Society of Bengal, executed by the sculptor Joseph Shepherd Wyon. 1860s. Bronze medal, 3,2 cm diameter. With relief portrait of Louis Daguerre on front and Photographic Society of Bengal embossed on back.

Very rare and in good condition.

Provenance: Günter Heil Collection

Photographer: Bourne & Shepherd and others. Sir John Lawrence (1811 - 1879), Viceroy of India 1864 - 1869. 1860s. 7 albumen prints. Most circa 23 x 18 cm. Most mounted to board/card, some annotated in pencil under image on mount.

Includes single portraits of the Viceroy as well as group portraits with him among other high ranking officials. – Some scuff marks, some with fading in edges, otherwise with strong contrasts and in good condition.

Provenance: Günter Heil Collection

Photographer: Bourne & Shepherd (4), Lala Deen Dayal (1) and unknown. Portraits of Maharajas and rulers of India. 1860s - 1870s. 6 carte-de-visite albumen prints. Most with photographer's logo on mount recto/verso.

A few faded, otherwise in very good condition.

Provenance: Günter Heil Collection

Photographer: E. Wilkinson, Bengal Photographers. Portraits of Nautch girls and other women. 1860s - 1870s. 9 carte-de-visite albumen prints. A few with photographer's logo on mount recto/verso.

Most faded, some scuff marks, otherwise most in good condition.

Provenance: Günter Heil Collection

Photographer: John William Newland (b. ? - 1857). Portrait of a British officer stationed in Calcutta, India. Circa 1850. Quarter-plate daguerreotype, with metal surround (a few spots in edges), resealed under modern glass in leather case (some scuff marks) with red silk lining and photographer's stamp on inside cover.

A small stamped envelope with a One Penny Red postage stamp (issued 1841), addressed to Thomas Waugh Esq., The Grove, Cumberwell, London is stored behind the daguerreotype in the case, indicating that this might be the identity of the sitter. – Minimal oxidation in lower corners, otherwise in very good condition.

Provenance: Günter Heil Collection

Lit.: Joachim K. Bautze/Raffael Dedo Gadebusch. Picturesque Views. Mughal India in Nineteenth-Century Photography, Ostfildern 2008, ill. p. 19.

Photographer: Samuel Bourne (1834 - 1912), Andrew Charles Brisbane Neill (1814 - 1891) and Colonel Thomas Biggs (1822 - 1905), Felice Beato (1834 - 1909). Temples and landscapes of India. 1860s - 1870s. 8 albumen prints. Most circa 29 x 39 cm. Mounted (3 flush-mounted) to board, 4 annotated in ink under image on mount.

A few with light foxing, some scuff marks, otherwise with strong contrasts and in good condition.

Provenance: Günter Heil Collection