Coronation Darbar 1911 - Delhi
One of an extensive set of series H.A. Mirza & Sons, Delhi's leading photographer and postcard publisher at the time, made of the Darbar.
One of an extensive set of series H.A. Mirza & Sons, Delhi's leading photographer and postcard publisher at the time, made of the Darbar.
The Delhi Durbar of 1911 was one of the most "postcarded" events of the Raj, and the first time a reigning British monarch, George V and his wife Queen Mary (an avid postcard collector) attended.
The Cross & Ball Church is known as the St. James Church of Old Delhi inside Kashmir Gate. It was built by James Skinner in 1836. It is said that Skinner was once badly wounded while serving the army. He vowed to build a church in case he survived.
Qutub Minar is among the tallest brick minarets in the world, an important early example of Indo-Islamic architecture built between 1199-1220 ACE. The Mexican writer Octavio Paz described it in his book In Light of India (1995):
"it is difficult to
A candid Delhi shot by a little-known photographer.
The Mexican Nobel Prize winner Octavio Paz (1914-1998) served as his country's Ambassador to India in the 1960s, and just before he died left behind a memoir of the country, In Light of India (1995) which has a beautiful description of Humayun's
[Original caption on back] This famous street was built by Jahanara Begum daughter of Emperor Shah Jehan. It extends 1520 yards in length from Delhi Fort to Fatehpuri Mosque, and is 40 yards [wide].
[Original caption] Built during the reign of Sultan Rukunuddin and Sultana Razia Begam in 1215 A.D. [end]
Shamsuddin Altamash, wasa 13th century pre-Mughal Muslim ruler of north India, was is better known today as Iltutmish, the third ruler of the
Perhaps the most popular of the "Greetings from" postcards from India was this "Salaams from" version by the large Delhi publisher, H.A. Mirza & Sons.
It seems as if the Mughal Emperor Jehanghir's (1569-1627) fondness for wine merited a postcard many centuries later.