Photo 46

Red buckram portfolio containing prints mounted on card, with captions in ink beneath. Prints are numbered with a stamped number in the top right-hand corner. Although all the pictures relate to the construction of the Kidderpore Docks, they appear to have been gathered from different sources. Prints 1–10 are mounted on a uniform size card with caption in the same hand and the name of William Duff-Bruce, the engineer and presumably the photographer, below the print. Prints 13–15, although on larger card, are captioned in the same hand (but without Duff-Bruce's name), while print 15 is captioned in more elaborate style and with Duff-Bruce's name. Prints 17–21 and 26 are captioned in another hand and are more richly toned prints, while prints 16 and 22–25 are captioned in pencil. Prints 11 and 12, which are slightly later than the others are captioned in a different hand, while print 27 is mounted on heavy board with caption on the reverse. The original numbering has been retained, although it does not follow a chronological sequence.

The general history of the development and building of the Kidderpore Docks is well-covered in The Calcutta Port Trust, A brief history of fifty years' work 1870-1920 (Calcutta, 1920, BL shelfmark V7883). See also, Report of the Calcutta Port Commissioners in communication with the Bengal Chamber of Commerce on the best means of extending the accommodation for shipping in the Port of Calcutta (Calcutta, 1873, BL shelfmark W4192); and Commissioners for making improvements in the Port of Calcutta. Appendix to Report 1873-74, which contains 10 original views along the river showing port construction work by V. Pont.