Collection of 44 glass photographic plates of New Zealand.

44 glass photographic plates. In the corner of each plate there is a triangular label: Makers Newton & Co. Ltd, 43 Museum St, London WC1. The title and number is written in white ink on black card at the base or side of each photo. We have only been able to reference two of the photographs; one is held in the Alexander Turnbull Library: “A lake with a circular floating island, including two men in a dinghy, Whakaki, Wairoa”, photograph taken by William Williams, 1889; and “photograph of three Maori people - Te Hurinui, Ngaparu, and Kahu Tapune (wife of Ngaparu”, held by the Trust Waikato Art and Taonga Collection, which they identiufy as being taken by Alfred Burton in 1885. We have found no record or reproduction of any of the other photographs. The subjects are the following: Maoris and Maori culture: 10 photos; landsapes and nature: 12 photos (including Wairaki geyser, Waimangu geyser, floating island Whakaki, Tasman Glacier); cattle and sheep farming: 3 photos; timber: 3 photos; hunting: 1 photo; kauri gum: 2 photos; agriculture, vinyards and fruit farming: 4 photos; gold: 2 photos; Rotorua (2), Dunedin, Ohinemutu, Wellington. Of the ten fine images of Maoris and Maori culture, one identifies the three figures as Te Hurinui, Kahu Tapune, Ngaparu. Another names the "Sophia, half caste guide", who we have seen mentioned in a 1901 article on Te Wairoa, and in a longer 1911 obituary article which dates her birth in 1825, and gives a detailed account of her parentage and her life; and two exceptionally fine portraits of male Maori figures with tattoos. If you wish to receive further images, please contact the bookshop.