Photo 10/26

Album, 565x360mm, in very poor condition and in need of rebinding. The album contains photographs, newspaper cuttings, programmes, addresses of welcome, invitations, menus and other memorabilia from Lord Reading's tours of India during his term of office. Many of the prints have handwritten titles and most subjects can be identified with reference to the adjacent press cuttings, etc. The subjects cover the broad range of Viceregal duties such as state processions, durbars, speeches, opening ceremonies, laying foundation stones, Chamber of Princes, investitures, visits to places of historical interest, military reviews and inspections of Guards of Honour. Hunting scenes are well represented including tiger, cheetah and antelope hunts and grouse shoots. Scenes of social and sporting life include garden and house parties, fetes, dancing, National Baby Week events, races, horse shows, tennis and polo tournaments. There are numerous portraits including many important political figures such as Jinnah. The majority are informal snapshots but there are several formal group portraits with the Viceroy and staff and Indian rulers. There are two series of prints which relate to historical incidents: the release of Miss Ellis in 1923 who was abducted in Kohat and subsequently freed through the efforts of Mrs Starr, and scenes relating to the Akali Movement in 1924 showing Jathas being arrested en route to Jaito and devotees carrying the Granth Sahib. The final prints relate to Reading's departure from India and arrival in Britain in April 1926. The following places were visited by the Readings, mostly in India: Rampur, Kapurthala, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Gwalior, Tirah, Landi Kotal, Indore, Simla, Mashobra, Dhami, Bikaner, Datia, Jaito, Delhi, Rangoon, Bharatpur, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Bombay, Ellora, Ajanta, Daulatabad, Aligarh, Calcutta and Baroda.

Process = Gelatine prints

Photographers = Mrs Starr, ; D.J.Acharya, Limbdi and others unknown.;