Collis, William Andrews CDV New Plymouth 1875-1891

Just got these in the mail today. They are both CDV's by William Andrews Collis of New Plymouth who was active about 1875-1891 - see Auckland City Library - Photographers Databases


The view of an early township is the earlier image as can be seen from it's squarer shape and very simple stamped label to the rear. The portrait of a Maori woman is later with a more elaborate, label by ""Herald" Lith. Auckland N.Z."


The card also has rounded corners in keeping with later CDVs.


I have searched through lots of images in the Alexander Turnbull Library - mostly the towns around New Plymouth but have not been able to identify this one - Can anyone help? It is from a high point - a water tower? a lookout? a ship's mast or a tree?

A nice image of a Maori woman - probably from the Taranaki area from Photographer's location and quick look through Collis's other photos in area she is wearing a very similar Piupiu type cloak or dress. She has a moko to her chin (tattoo) and a scarf? around her neck. It would be nice to ID her but I realise this is a long shot!

Clearing out photos

I am clearing out some older photos, but not old enough for me!, I am putting movie memorabilia onto eBay including Paul Newman's original publicity photos, I have listed some from "The Drowning Pool" - where the song "softly killing me with your song" came from. apparently.

Also from "Cool Hand Luke" and "Winning."

Lots more to go, also have heaps of New Zealand Aircraft photos to clear out - from the "Wings" magazine archives. I have some regulars who buy these as well as putting some on the local Trademe auction. I am keeping a lovely old photo of the Vogel 1 aeroplane made by Wellington photographer Arthur Schaef.

I also have an eBay guide on how to identify different types of photographs. Let me know if this is useful and if I can improve it.

Old Photo of Dunedin about 1862 Princes Street

Just got this in mail today. A great photo of Princes street in Dunedin. I had a look on Timeframes A great site to see some of the National Libraries holdings. It takes a bit of navigating around and don't go on it after midnight as they seem to shut all their servers down.

Anyway, there is a copy of this photo there.

I at first thought it the same but noticed a few differences; mine is not cropped so much and the library one seems to have a name written in the negative to the lower left corner as well as a few more scratches. (The National Library images are not high resolution - to encourage you to buy a print!)

This photo also appears on page 11 of Hardwicke Knight's book "Photography in New Zealand" pub 1971 - he attributes this photo to William Melluish who seems to have had his studio very near here. The National Library says photographer unknown. Knight uses it as an example of how these photos from collodian glass plates are a bit "faster" than earlier so you can see people who are not moving too much but there are still "ghosts" of moving carts and people.

In the photo can be seen the following names:

Day & Mieville

W & J Barr - Butcher

James Bird & Co. Auctioneers, Commission & Shipping Agents

A. Mercer ships chandlers

a milner?

On the rear of mine it says Princes Street Dunedin & Dunedin looking down main street.

It came on the same page as another print.

This is labelled on rear - Club Hotel, Dunedin and "Club House - This club is now broken up"

I have no idea where or what this was so if any one knows ...

There is a small shield over the door but too indistinct to see much