Edwardian Photoblogging

Kensington and Chelsea Libraries in London, England, uncovered a series of images suggesting that the Edwardians might have been the world’s first photobloggers.

Amateur photographer Edward Linley Sambourne (1844 – 1910) was the chief cartoonist for the British satirical magazine “Punch” which was first published in 1841.

He captured a slice of Edwardian life in these amazing candid photographs.

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Young women walking to work in London; ladies and families strolling the boulevards of Paris; couples crossing the English Channel on steamships; friends enjoying the beaches of Kent and Ostende; and housemaids hard at work cleaning the steps to plush city townhomes.

Continuing the long, elegant lines of the late Victorian period, the Edwardian era was a time of transition in women’s fashion.

It would be the last time women would wear corsets in everyday life.

And as these images show, women were enjoying a new level of freedom from the rigid conventions of heavy ankle-length Victorian gowns and bustles.

Embracing leisure sports, the upper-classes drove rapid developments in more mobile, flexible clothing styles made of lightweight fabrics for more active lifestyles.

Women’s fashion would never look back.

“however far politicians were to put the clocks back in other steeples in the years after the war, no one ever put the lost inches back on the hems of women’s skirts.”

Oxford University historian Arthur Marwick.

As Oxford University historian Arthur Marwick (1936 – 2006) noted, “for, however far politicians were to put the clocks back in other steeples in the years after the war, no one ever put the lost inches back on the hems of women’s skirts.”

Sambourne’s hobby gave us glimpses into a past that looks oddly familiar.

It was 1905.

What is this woman thinking as she walks to work?

She had similar worries to most of us today—a to-do list as long as your arm, what to make for dinner, helping her little sister with her homework, whether to accept the advances of a work colleague who seemed like a true gentleman …

Apart from her hat, the practicality and style of her clothing wouldn’t change much for decades to come.

A young woman in Cromwell Road, London on July 12, 1905 in a stylish striped shirt with a belt and an ankle-length skirt

Think the Internet generation was the first to truly embrace mobile multi-tasking? Glued to a book on the walk to work in London, this woman reminds us of how much we rely on mobile devices today.

A woman in a formal white dress with black handbag walks along the street in Kensington on June 15, 1908
A woman in a formal white dress with black handbag walks along the street in Kensington on June 15, 1908
A woman in a formal white dress with black handbag walks along the street in Kensington on June 15, 1908
A woman in a formal white dress with black handbag walks along the street in Kensington on June 15, 1908

No need to look where we’re going—other people will simply adapt and move around us. As long as we don’t walk into a lamppost, we’re good to go.

This woman is a shop salesperson, walking along Kensington Church Street, on September 8, 1906
This woman is a shop salesperson, walking along Kensington Church Street, on September 8, 1906

Big hats with giant bows and cycling may not go together well today, but Edwardians made it work. Cycling was in vogue as the way to get around, but to be without one’s hat was sacrilegious.

Hats could be hazardous to one's cycling, 1908
Hats could be hazardous to one’s cycling, 1908
Two women engaged in conversation as they walk, 1908
Two women engaged in conversation as they walk, 1908

Sambourne used a concealed camera to capture candid moments. But it looks like this woman has an inkling that something is going on.

Is that a camera in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me, 1908
Is that a camera in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me, 1908

Few things in the Edwardian era were worse than being out-hatted. One had to keep a close eye on the competition.

On the lookout for photographers, 1908
On the lookout for photographers, 1908

Edwardians too had to suffer the inescapable feeling of incredulity at the various scandals of politicians and celebrities.

Shocking news
Shocking news

Imagine this woman is checking her iPhone. The little dog doesn’t seem too impressed.

A young woman carrying something. Can't be an iPhone, can it
A young woman carrying something. Can’t be an iPhone, can it
Two women talking carrying books, 1908
Two women talking carrying books, 1908
You've been spotted again, Mr Photoblogger. Kensington, 1906
You’ve been spotted again, Mr Photoblogger. Kensington, 1906
You've been spotted again, Mr Photoblogger. Kensington, 1906
You’ve been spotted again, Mr Photoblogger. Kensington, 1906
Escorting the boys down tree-lined Cromwell Road
Escorting the boys down tree-lined Cromwell Road.
The wonderful thing about candid photography is capturing people smiling, which they didn't do for portraits, 1907
The wonderful thing about candid photography is capturing people smiling, which they didn’t do for portraits, 1907

More freedom of movement in Edwardian clothing allowed these women to put their best foot forward.

The brisker the walk, the better
The brisker the walk, the better

Be careful! Having a good sense of balance was important for wearing an Edwardian hat.

A young woman on Kensington High Street with horse-drawn buses in the background
A little more formally attired, 1906
A little more formally attired, 1906

Whistle while you walk to school with Mother. A charming picture of a happy moment in time, captured forever.

The wonderful thjg about candid photography is capturing people smiling, which they didn't do for portraits, 1907
The wonderful thjg about candid photography is capturing people smiling, which they didn’t do for portraits, 1907
Putting your best foot forward, 1906
Putting your best foot forward, 1906

Confidence. Perhaps for the first time in history, Edwardian women were free to project confidence and begin determining their own future.

Enhanced and colorized brings a little more life

We move to Paris, France. Higher hemlines were a feature of Edwardian skirts that afforded women greater freedom of movement, but at least one of these ladies prefers to lift her skirt to clear the puddles just in case.

Three women walk the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, 1906

Arm-in-arm. What could be more perfect than an afternoon stroll around the Tuileries Garden in Paris?

A group of young women and children walking in the Tuileries Garden, Paris, 1906
A group of young women and children walking in the Tuileries Garden, Paris, 1906

Black mourning dress worn for months or years was a convention carried over from the Victorian era and still widely practiced.

Two ladies in mourning dress, Paris, 1906
Two ladies in mourning dress, Paris, 1906
A fashionable woman in the Tuileries Garden, Paris, 1906
A fashionable woman in the Tuileries Garden, Paris, 1906
Two ladies climb the steps to Rue de Rivoli, Paris, 1906
Two ladies climb the steps to Rue de Rivoli, Paris, 1906
A parasol looks the part on the Boulevard des Italiens, Paris, 1906
A parasol looks the part on the Boulevard des Italiens, Paris, 1906

Notice the wheels on the horse-drawn cab. Inspired by the wheels of bicycles? These were interesting times—a transition from horses to automobiles was underway.

Paris in the Spring, 1906
Coming down the steps to Rue de Rivoli, Paris, 1906
Coming down the steps to Rue de Rivoli, Paris, 1906

Time to see and be seen at the Place du Louvres.

Fashionable Parisians at Place du Louvres, Paris, 1906
Fashionable Parisians at Place du Louvres, Paris, 1906
Crossing the boulevard, Paris, 1906
A family walking in the Tuileries Garden, Paris, 1906
A family walking in the Tuileries Garden, Paris, 1906

A brisk breeze, sea air, and steam power.

This lady is aboard a steamer—a ship propelled by steam—crossing the English Channel to visit Ostende in Belgium.

Invented by Victorians, the steamship enabled the upper classes to see the world and as prices fell, the middle class were able to enjoy the occasional weekend getaway.

On board a steamer ship to Ostende, Belgium, 1906
On board a steamer ship to Ostende, Belgium, 1906
Best to wrap up warm for the bracing trip across the English Channel, 1906
Best to wrap up warm for the bracing trip across the English Channel, 1906

Looks like this woman found a nice spot on the ship that was sheltered from the wind.

A respite from the wind on the bracing trip across the English Channel, 1906
A respite from the wind on the bracing trip across the English Channel, 1906
Best to wrap up warm for the bracing trip across the English Channel, 1906
Best to wrap up warm for the bracing trip across the English Channel, 1906

Hitting the beach in Edwardian times was a very formal affair.

Getting a tan was still many decades away from becoming a fashionable or even desirous thing.

On the beach in Ostende, Belgium, 1906
On the beach in Ostende, Belgium, 1906
Dressing for he occasion. Beachwear, 1906
Dressing for he occasion. Beachwear, 1906

Hidden from gazing eyes, this woman enters a Victorian bathing machine to change out of her modesty.

Better get inside the bathing machine to change out of my modesty
Better get inside the bathing machine to change out of my modesty

Hats and coats against the wind.

No weather could prevent one wearing one’s hat.

That sea breeze can be quite bracing. Folkestone, Kent, 1906
That sea breeze can be quite bracing. Folkestone, Kent, 1906

Hold onto your hats, ladies!

Hold onto your hats! Holidaying in Folkestone, Kent, 1906
Hold onto your hats! Holidaying in Folkestone, Kent, 1906
You didn't see Dad anywhere, did you. Folkestone, Kent, 1906
You didn’t see Dad anywhere, did you. Folkestone, Kent, 1906

How do we get rid of that pesky photographer, Mr Sambourne?

How about we ask him to fetch a bucket of water and a brush and help us clean the steps!

You going to just stand there watching or fetch me some more water

And he’s off …

Thought that would do the trick.

Bye bye Mr Sambourne, and thank you for this incredible journey into the Edwardian era.

One step at a time. The tedious job of cleaning the porch steps, 1906
One step at a time. The tedious job of cleaning the porch steps, 1906

40 Beautiful Images of Wales from the 1890s

Through the magic of “Photochrom” comes these beautiful color images of Wales from the late 19th century.

Photochrom is a process for producing colorized images from black-and-white photographic negatives.

It was most popular in the 1890s, when true color photography had been developed but was still not commercially viable.

Journey with us through beautiful Wales as we listen to a traditional Welsh folk song.

Llandudno
Llandudno
Pier and Pavilion, Colwyn Bay
Pier and Pavilion, Colwyn Bay
North Sands, Tenby
North Sands, Tenby
Monmouth
Monmouth
Lyn Crafnant, Trefriew
Lyn Crafnant, Trefriew
Llangollen
Llangollen
Llangollen
Llangollen
Llandogo on the Wye
Llandogo on the Wye
Kidwelly, Carmarthen
Kidwelly, Carmarthen
Llanberis
Llanberis
Happy Valley, Llandudno
Happy Valley, Llandudno
Gwynant Valley
Gwynant Valley
Fairy Glen, Bettws-y-Coed
Fairy Glen, Bettws-y-Coed
Dixton Ferry and Church, Monmouth
Dixton Ferry and Church, Monmouth
Conwy Castle entrance
Conwy Castle entrance
Chepstow
Chepstow
Chain Bridge Hotel, Berwyn Valley, Llangollen
Chain Bridge Hotel, Berwyn Valley, Llangollen
Carnarvon Castle
Carnarvon Castle
Carnarvon Castle at sunset
Carnarvon Castle at sunset
Caerphilly Castle
Caerphilly Castle
Cadair Idris and Dyssyni Valley
Cadair Idris and Dyssyni Valley
Bridge over the Monnow, Monmouth
Bridge over the Monnow, Monmouth
Bridge at Carmarthen
Bridge at Carmarthen
Bettws-y-Coed
Bettws-y-Coed
Abergavenny, Sugar Loaf Mountain
Abergavenny, Sugar Loaf Mountain
Abergavenny, Neville Court
Abergavenny, Neville Court
Welsh spinners and spinning wheel
Welsh spinners and spinning wheel
Vicinity of Newland Church, Monmouth
Vicinity of Newland Church, Monmouth
Vale of Festiniog from Terrace Plas, Festiniog
Vale of Festiniog from Terrace Plas, Festiniog
Troy House, Monmouth
Troy House, Monmouth
Torrent Walk, Dolgelly
Torrent Walk, Dolgelly
Tintern Abbey, S.W.
Tintern Abbey, S.W.
The promenade at Colwyn Bay
The promenade at Colwyn Bay
The Harbor at Tenby
The Harbor at Tenby
The bridge, Chepstow
The bridge, Chepstow
The beach at Llandudno
The beach at Llandudno
Tenby
Tenby
Swallow Falls, Fairy Glen, Bettws-y-Coed
Swallow Falls, Fairy Glen, Bettws-y-Coed
Station Road, Colwyn Bay
Station Road, Colwyn Bay
South Stack Lighthouse, Holyhead
South Stack Lighthouse, Holyhead

Photochrom – Victorian Era Color Photography

Before Color Photography became mainstream, there was Photochrom.

Photochrom images are ink-based, created through “the direct photographic transfer of an original negative onto litho and chromographic printing plates.”

Hans Jakob Schmid (1856-1924) of the Swiss firm Orell Füssli, invented the Photochrom in the 1880s.

Deceptively like color photographs, the small dots that comprise the ink-based photomechanical image are visible through a magnifying glass.

Photochrom allowed vivid color prints to be mass produced.

The Detroit Photographic Company made as many as seven million prints a year with up to 30,000 different views.

Betsy Ross House, Philadelphia - before and after applying Photochrom
Betsy Ross House, Philadelphia – before and after applying Photochrom

Mail order catalogs and tourist sites sold Photochrom prints to globe trotters, armchair travelers, educators, and others to display at home or keep in albums.

Large sets of images were stored in boxes resembling books with decorative binding.

A street haberdashery, New York - before and after applying Photochrom
A street haberdashery, New York – before and after applying Photochrom

Photochrom business boomed during the 1890s and early 1900s. Here’s a small sample of these beautiful images from the past.

Amsterdam c. 1890
Amsterdam c. 1890
Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon, England, c. 1890–1900
Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon, England, c. 1890–1900
Bergen, Norway, c. 1890s.
Bergen, Norway, c. 1890s.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany
Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany
Mulberry Street in New York City c 1900
Mulberry Street in New York City c 1900
East Parade, Bangor, Wales
East Parade, Bangor, Wales
Belgian milk peddlers with a dogcart, c. 1890–1900
Belgian milk peddlers with a dogcart, c. 1890–1900
Irish spinner and spinning wheel. County Galway, Ireland
Irish spinner and spinning wheel. County Galway, Ireland