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Views in Fiji

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3091A

Scope and Contents

An album containing mounted albumen prints, most measuring approximately 230 x 175 mm., and mostly captioned in pencil. Photographs are probably by the firm of Besse & Black. The album cover is stamped 'H.R.' beneath the title and it is suggested by Dr. E.M. Stephenson that this refers to Hugh Hall Ragg, engineer, boiler maker, general smith and government contractor in Fiji at this time.

Besse & Black: it seems likely that the photographs were selected individually from prints offered by the studio of Besse & Black, which was operating in Suva in 1885. Both Besse & Black and the Dufty Bros. (also in Suva then) offered selections of photographs for standard prices per number bought. Both firms photographed private houses also. A number of the pictures in the album were published in 'Besse & Black's illustrated history of Fiji' (John Sands, Sydney 1885). Besse left Fiji in 1887. It was probably after that that F. Dufty bought his negatives, thus leading to much confusion regarding the identity of the photographer.

Dates

  • Creation: 1885

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Extent

48 item(s) (48 images)

Language of Materials

English

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

photographs in varying conditions: some good and some yellowing.

Existence and Location of Copies

This collection is available on microfiche: Oceania, fiche numbers 6-7.

General

This item level description was entered by NE and MJC using information from the original typescript catalogue.

Originator(s)

Ragg, Hugh Hall, fl 1885, engineer

Includes index.
Date
2006-10-25 11:55:43+00:00
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository

Contact:
Cambridge University Library
West Road
Cambridge CB3 9DR United Kingdom