Photo 269/1

Black full-leather album, 294 x 236 mm, containing 149 prints mounted within gilt borders, with handwritten captions. The spine of the album has red leather panels inscribed, 'Lucknow Album, Vol 1'. This album was formerly owned by the Times war correspondent, William H. Russell, who was presented with it (together with Vol 2) by Captain Trevor Wheler. Wheler's bookplate appears on the frontispiece below the inscription: HeadQuarters Camp Dilkoosha Lucknow March 15th 1858. Presented to me by Trevor Wheler [signed] W. H. Russell. The album was compiled before the Seige of Lucknow (May 1857) and features the work of the local photographer, Ahmad Ali Khan, who apparantly took portraits free of charge and thus built up a extensive record of both Indian and European residents of and visitors to Lucknow in 1856 and early 1857. As well as portraits there are also several topographical views of Lucknow, as it was before the Uprising, views of Delhi and one each of Landour and Srinagar, the latter attributed to 'Capt Glynn'. Many of the prints are annotated, presumably by Wheler and Russell, providing names of sitters and often their fate during the Siege of Lucknow.

A facsimile of the original volumes is available for consultation in the Asian and African Studies Print Room.