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National Photographic Record and Survey

Photograph
1904 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This London street scene was part of the National Photographic Record and Survey (1897–1910), a project to create a national memory bank of Britain’s ancient and local customs, ceremonies and buildings. The National Photographic Record Association was founded in 1897 by Sir Benjamin Stone. A prolific photographer and Conservative MP for Birmingham, Stone enlisted a network of local camera club members to document, county by county, what they saw as Britain’s heritage threatened by modernisation. The platinum printing process was chosen for the project because of its superior tonal range and permanence. The Association deposited prints as they were made at the British Museum. The collection of over 5,000 photographs remained there until the year 2000, when it was transferred to the V&A.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleNational Photographic Record and Survey (series title)
Materials and techniques
platinum print mounted on card with handwritten ink notation
Brief description
Photograph mounted on card, showing the Sunday Morning Bird Market at Bethnal Green by H J Malby, 1904
Physical description
One of a set of 4 b&w prints mounted on card depicting a bird market
Dimensions
  • Paper mount height: 274mm
  • Paper mount width: 355mm (Note: photograph is mounted on same board with three other photograhps)
Marks and inscriptions
On the back a label from the British Museum filled out in ink: 'National Photographic Record Association British Museum Collection Subject: Sunday Morning Bethnal Green Bird Market County: London Date: 1904 Contributor: H.J. Malby Address: Chelmsford Road, Woodford Remarks: ' Back is stamped: 'British Museum 1905 12 15 1'
Gallery label
Photo London: Beneath the Surface Somerset House May 21 - August 24, 2015 These London street scenes were part of the National Photographic Record and Survey (1897–1910), a project to create a national memory bank of Britain’s ancient and local customs, ceremonies and buildings. The National Photographic Record Association was founded in 1897 by politician and amateur photographer Sir Benjamin Stone. He enlisted supporters from local camera clubs to help form an archive of over 5,000 prints.(21-5-2015)
Credit line
Transferred from the British Museum
Summary
This London street scene was part of the National Photographic Record and Survey (1897–1910), a project to create a national memory bank of Britain’s ancient and local customs, ceremonies and buildings. The National Photographic Record Association was founded in 1897 by Sir Benjamin Stone. A prolific photographer and Conservative MP for Birmingham, Stone enlisted a network of local camera club members to document, county by county, what they saw as Britain’s heritage threatened by modernisation. The platinum printing process was chosen for the project because of its superior tonal range and permanence. The Association deposited prints as they were made at the British Museum. The collection of over 5,000 photographs remained there until the year 2000, when it was transferred to the V&A.
Associated objects
Other number
1905 12 15 1 - British Museum number
Collection
Accession number
E.3161-2000

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Record createdJanuary 19, 2001
Record URL
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