WORLD TRAVEL TOURS - INDIA

1905

Silver gelatin print mounted on stereoscopic cards

The collection of 100 stereoscopic views depicts urban and provincial Indian scenes along with historical monuments by Realistic Travels, London, contained in a custom-made blue cloth case in the form of a book entitled World Tour Travels: India . Stereocards housed in original mock single-volume bookcase, spine with twin gilt lettering and decoration.

The cards are numbered 1 - 100 and are each lettered in English in single volume. Each pair of views is mounted on stout card (now somewhat bowed) measuring 87 x 178 mm for insertion in a viewer. Each mount is stamped 'Realistic Travels', with letterpress caption and serial number. The photos mention copyright next to their captions on the recto.

Complete sets of Realistic Travels' India series are rare. All the images of this set are different from the ones in the previous lot, with focus on people of India.

The firm of Realistic Travels was set up in London in 1908 by the Canadian-born photographer Charles Hilton DeWitt Girdwood who had previously taken photographs in India and was famous for his Great War series.

Album contents in order:-
1. A Poem in marble - an enchanting vista of the world renowned Taj Mahal, tomb of Empress Mumtaz, Agra
2. The Taj Mahal mirrored in the pool - the finest memorial ever erected by man to the love of Woman, Agra.p
3. A Jewel of beauty - the peerless Taj Mahal, inlaid with precious stones and delicately ornate, Agra.
4. Marble trellis windows and exquisite inlaid walls of Taj Mahal, perfect even under a microscope, Agra.
5. The superb gateway, a worthy pendant to the Taj Mahal in the garden court beyond, Agra.
6. The draw-bridge across the moat and the Delhi Gate, the entrance to the Fort, Agra.
7. The Pearl Mosque of purest marble, the most perfect in design and finish in India, Agra.
8. The lovely Khas Mahal, and the Golden Pavillions from the "Grape Garden," the fort, Agra.
9. The tomb of Itmud-ud-Daula, with delicate lattice window and beautifully adorned, Agra.
10. A lovely scene of romance and tragedy, from the Saman Burj across the river to the Taj Mahal.
11. The beautiful carved pillars and charminf inlaid walls of the Jessamine Burj, Agra.
12. The walls of the fort and Jumna River, from the exquisite marble screen of the Saman Burj, Agra.
13. Tomb of Akbar, the great Mughal, Emperor of India - Kohinoor was once set in pillar on left - Sikandra.
14. The Kashmir Gate torn by shot and shell, where the British stormed in 1857, Delhi.
15. The magnificent Diwan-i-Khas, profusely inlaid with precious stones, the fort, Delhi.
16. The beautiful painted Palace of Rang Mahal, the Royal residence of the Mughal Queens, Delhi.
17. Exquisite marble grilles in the Ranga Mahal Palace, rich in colour and elaborate decorations, Delhi.
18. The Mutiny memorial, an imperishable tribute to those who took part in the great siege, Delhi.
19. The Jama Masjid, the great Mosque of the Mohammedans, the largest in India, Delhi.
20. There is no God but Allah, and Mohammad is a Prophet" - worshippers in the Jama Masjid, Delhi.
21. Noble Mausoleum of the Emperor Humayun, where Hodgson captured the Oudh Princes in 1857, Delhi.
22. The curiously carved columns of the beautiful Hall of Sixty-four pillars, Delhi.
23. The Kutub Minar, Moslem Tower of Victory, the Iron Pillar and ruined cloisters of the Mosque, Delhi.
24. Alai Gate, and graceful Kutub Minar, the most perfect tower in design and finish in the world, Delhi.
25. Indian Maharajas in all the splendour of the East, grand elephant procession at the State Entry, Delhi.
26. From the Temple gardens over the sacred Tank and Temple to the Clock Tower and City, Amritsar.
27. The Golden Temple reflected in the waters of the sacred Tank, from the escalated platform, Amritsar.
28. Worshippers on the marble causeway to the Golden Temple, the holy Shrine of the Sikhs, Amritsar.
29. The picturesque Bab Atal Tower, richly painted with frescoes from across the Tank, Amritsar.
30. The island and fountains in the beautiful Shalimar gardens, laid out by the Emperor Shah Jahan, Lahore.
31. From the Museum over the Public Garden and city to the "Tiger Fort" on the rugged hills, Jaipur.
32. The Hall of the Winds, fantastic and beautiful as a shell in tinted stucco, Jaipur.
33. Oriental life in the broad occidental streets of Jaipur, looking towards the Iswari Minar.
34. Pillars with delicately carved brackets supporting the dome of the marble Tomb of Ram Singh, Jaipur.
35. The pinnacle and exquisitely carved marble walls of the outer court of the Jain Temple, Sanganer.
36. The statues on the beautifully engraved shrine and canopy, Jain Temple, Sanganer.
37. The massive Man Singh Palace, charmingly ornamented with coloured tiles, Gwalior Fort.
38. The curiously sculptured Sas Bahu Temple on the ramparts of the Fort, Gwalior.
39. Memorial erected over the well to British women and children massacred by Nana Sahib, Cawnpore.
40. The Queen's Park on the banks of the Ganges Canal, Cawnpore.
41. Battle Gate, damaged by shells during the siege with entrance on left where rescuers entered Lucknow.
42. The Residency, where British heroism shone resplendent through darkest days of the mutiny, Lucknow.
43. Monument to Sir Henry Lawrence and those who fell in the heroic defence of the Residency, 1857, Lucknow.
44. Tomb of Shah Najaf from the gateway, whose walls resisted the heavy naval guns in 1857, Lucknow.
45. The Gardens and Hasainabad imambara, the great Palace of the King of Oudh, Lucknow.
46. Burning Ghats and bathing places on the Ganges, from the river, Benaras.
47. Temples and Ghats on the Ganges at Benaras, the most sacred city in India.
48. Manikarnika Ghat, the most sacred on the Ganges, the Holy well and footprints of Vishnu, Benaras.
49. Cremation of the dead at the burning Ghats on the sacred river, Benaras.
50. The outer court of the Golden Temple of Siva, the sacred Shrine of the Hindus, Benaras.
51. The Domes and Pinnacles of the Golden Temple plated with gold, Benaras.
52. Bird's-eye view of Benaras from the Minaret of the Aurangazeb Mosque.
53. The curiosly carved pillars of the Durga or "Monkey" Temple, Benaras.
54. A beautiful carved Temple in the City, Allahabad.
55. Darjeeling, the beautiful Himalayan resort, on the slopes of the grandest mountain range in the world.
56. The Mall and Observatory Hill, Darjelling, looking down 7,000 feet to the plains below.
57. Government House, Calcutta, the winter capital of Bengal since the transfer of Imperial seat to Delhi.
58. The magnificient High Courts, resembling the Town Hall of Upres, Calcutta.
59. The Post Office from the tank, Dalhousie Square: a tablet indicates site of "Black Hole," Calcutta.
60. Hasting's Street and over Government Gardens, to the Government Offices, Calcutta.
61. The great Banyan Tree with 400 grounded serial roots, 1,000 feet in circumference, Calcutta.
62. The Mosque of Muhammad in Dharmtolla Street, Calcutta.
63. Modern buildings on the Esplanade, serving the dual purpose of Law Courts and light-house tower, Madras.
64. A Hindu Temple in a bathing pool in the native quarter of Madras, Southern India.
65. Seringapatam, Tipu's island fortress, stormed by Baird, raised to fury by captivity here in chains.
66. Picturesque splendour and elaborate carvings of the Hindu Temple, sacred to the god Shiva, Mysore.
67. Public Buildings, Bangalore, the largest residential and military station of Southern India.
68. The Museum reflected in the pool, Bangalore, India.
69. Hindu Temple of Sia, rich in sculpture patiently carved in stone, near the old city wall, Bangalore.
70. Leaving the dak bungalow for a "bile-gharry" drive. the typical native taxi of southern India, Belgaum.
71.The Marble Rocks mirrored in the deep waters above the cascade, Narbada Gorge, Jubbulpore.
72. Everyday life in the crowded streets near the Gateway and Minarets of the great Mosque, Bhopal.
73. The picturesque Gateway and Railing of the great Buddhist Tope dating from 250 B.C., Sanchi.
74. The exquisitely carved North Gate, depicting, the worship of animals and trees, Great Tope, Sanchi.
75. A glimpse across the busy Square to the oriental Gateway of the Maharajah's modern Palace, Indore.
76. The beautiful Temple at Maheshwar, overlooking the Nerbudda River.
77. Coolies carrying baskets of cotton from huge dump to the mills, Indore, the cotton district of India.
78. State Elephants in gorgeous trappings in the Palace Grounds, Durbar Day, Indore.
79. Eager for their bath, the State elephants of Indore enjoy their dip in the cooling river, Central India.
80. Driven from the dense jungle by the net of beaters, a fine tiger shot as it crosses a clearing, Indore.
81. Delicate carvings on the Minaret of the Mosque and Tomb of Rani Sipri, Ahmedabad.
82. Exquisite floral tracery in the stone window of the Sidi Saiyad Mosque, Ahmedabad.
83. The beautiful marble Temple of Hathi Singh from the outer court, Ahmedabad.
84. The richly adorned sanctuary of the beautiful Temple of Hathi Singh, Ahmedabad.
85. The finely constructed galleries of the Baolis or Wells of Dada Hari, Ahmedabad.
86. The Dastur Khan Mosque with beautiful marble lattice windows in the cloisters, Ahmedabad.
87. The Pavillion and tomb of the "Saint" Ganj Baksh at Sarkhej, Ahmedabad.
88. Modern Museum in Baroda, the capital of the enlightened and prosperous State of the Gaekwar.
89. Elephants with gorgeous trappings and resplendent howdahs in state procession, Manipuri bazaar, Baroda.
90. An elephant fight in the grounds of the Gaekwar's Palace, Baroda, famed for its spectacular contests.
91. A fast camel used to carry mails across the desert, in Manipura Bazaar lined with native shops, Baroda.
92. Queer air ventilators on the roofs of houses, Hyderabad Sind, where temperatures of 100° are usual.
93. Temple on the banks of the Ganga, one of the most sacred places in Hindus, Nasik.
94. Patient carving in solid rock, ornamented walls of the outer court of Karli Caves, Bombay.
95. Sculptured columns in the Karli Caves, the best preserved chaitya Temple in India, Bombay.
96. The wonderful rock temple of Siva, Elephanta Caves, entirely hewn out of the solid cliff, Bombay.
97. From Rajabai Tower over the High Courts and Horny Road to Victoria Station and City, Bombay.
98. The Courts of Justice, one of the handsome public buildings of Bombay, from across the Oval.
99. The unique carved drinking fountain in Faure Road, Bombay.
100. Victoria Station, profusely adorned with sculpture, the most magnificent in the world, Bombay.

NON-EXPORTABLE

This lot will be shipped in "as is" condition. For further details, please refer to the images of individual lots as reference for the condition of that lot.