Bonhams 1793 : JAVA WOODBURY (WALTER BENTLEY) and JAMES PAGE. Two albums comprising a total of 60 topographical views and portraits in Java, predominantly in and around Batavia, 1887-88 (2); together with 29 loose photographs, also from the Woodbury & Page studio, a few captioned in manuscript in pencil on the verso/mount, c.1870 and later (21)

WOODBURY (WALTER BENTLEY) and JAMES PAGE Two albums of topographical views and portraits, together with 29 loose photographs

4 Dec 2012 11:00 GMT London, Knightsbridge
Asia Beyond India
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JAVA

WOODBURY (WALTER BENTLEY) and JAMES PAGE. Two albums comprising a total of 60 topographical views and portraits in Java, predominantly in and around Batavia, albumen prints, 34 with photographers' blindstamp in bottom right corner "W&P. Photographieen van Ned Indië. Batavia", album views mounted one per page on recto only, images typically 180 x 240mm., half morocco, "Voyage Autour du Monde, 1887-88, Java" stamped in gilt on upper covers, albums identified by roman numerals "I" and "II", oblong folios (330 x 415mm.), 1887-88 (2); together with 29 loose photographs, also from the Woodbury & Page studio, a few captioned in manuscript in pencil on the verso/mount, [c.1870 and later] (21)

Sold for £11,875 inc. premium

Footnotes

Comprising: Album I - Comprising 32 predominantly topographical blindstamped images of views in Batavia and Buitenzorg. Including: a view of the Harmonie Clubhouse (set up in 1776 by the Governor General De Klerk - and central to the social lives of Batavia's European community - it was demolished by the municipality of Jakarta in 1985); a view of, what is thought to be, the Merderka Palace; the Buitenzorg Palace with giant lillies in the foreground; a still life of tropical fruit; other botanical studies, including view of Banyan trees; a group portrait of Javanese fisherman beside a river; two views of, possibly, the Tjiwedei crater; Javanese men with buffalo drawn carts on the road from Tjikao to Tjpada Larag, West Java; "The bridge over the old moat," a view from Culemborg lookout, looking east at the bridge which connected the old port with the road to Batavia, 100m south of the Kleine Boom and Stads Herberg; a view of, what looks to be, Kali Besar or Pintu Kecil (China Town); Molenvliet Ooost with canal to the right; a family home on Molenvliet Oost; a view of the front courtyard of The Hotel Des Indies, and a view of, what is thought to be, Gunung Sahari road including the canal.

Album II - Comprising 28 images, predominantly portraits, two of which are blindstamped. Including: a view of Javanese workers outside the main entrance to the Grand Hotel Java; a female Javanese dancer with musicians; a fine view of men beside a canal(?), one doing laundry; a group portrait of police, including two Javanese officers; two group portraits of women in/beside a river with boulders; two men posing with a horse drawn cart; a 'close-up' portrait of two children with a sewing machine in the background; a woman with a baby; lily pads; four portraits of young women; two young labourers; Chinese street vendors; a family at a table; a Gamelan ensemble and dancer, and a young woman dressed as a warrior(?), and another image of her with a basket of corn.

The loose photographs include: an early view of men, possibly vendors of some sort, outside the Daendel's Palace; a view looking south along Kali Besar (west) (2); another view of Javanese men with buffalo drawn carts on the Tjikao/Tjpada Larang road; an unidentified Western man on the porch of a house; a view of Tanah Abang, Batavia (2); Belle Vue, Buitenzorg; an avenue Molenvliet showing a group of Western inhabitants, one with, what looks to be, a Javanese wife; a Gamelan ensemble, one with a female dancer in traditional dress (3); a group portrait of Javanese men in uniform; a view of a pass with two figures atop horses in the distance, and a group portrait of women playing cards.

Category: Books / Books, Maps and Manuscripts

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