A Marwaree Woman
One can imagine that the textiles worn by the woman are vibrant with color, and the postcard could be spectacular hand-tinted, but the stripes still make for a billowing effect in black and white.
People
Narsingarh Entrance to Old Fort
[Original caption] Narsingarh–Entrance to Old Fort. Narsingarh is the capital of the state of that name in Central India.
Moet & Chandon Dry Imperial, 1898
A very early advertising postcard for a fine French champagne from a brand that persists today by a distributor with a monopoly in the Bombay Presidency. Moet & Chandon would ikely have offered these cards to its distributors.
Preaching by Riverside, Chittagong Hill Tracts
A rather early real photo postcard from what is now Bangladesh, a part of British India that is vastly under presented in postcard production.
Goorkha Soldiers
These Gurkha soldiers were possibly photographed in the firm's Darjeeling studio (opened 1890) or Simla a few years later.
Bhistee (Water Carrier)
One could argue that the bhistee was the most common male postcard type at the turn of the 20th century.
Troops of the British Empire - Hongkong Constabulary
Indian policemen and soldiers were an integral part of the British Empire's law and order apparatus in its Hong Kong colony. William Quin, after becoming Captain Superintendent in 1862, initiated direct recruitment from India.
The Inland Steamer "Serang"
Bengal's rivers were traversed by boats and steamers, on which this man served a captain. The firm he worked for, "I.G.S.N." is likely emblazoned on his shirt.
Two of A Kind in Kashmir
Much of the early postcard market was driven by collectors who exchanged cards with each other around the world, as this text on this card illustrates. Addressed to Frau Emma Valenti in Trieste, Austria:
"Madame,
Your cards to hand.
Mahomedan Woman, Bangalore
A spectacularly well-tinted color postcard. Note how well the colors have been applied by hand via stencils to the carpet the woman is sitting on.
