A Bania Lady
A beautiful example of colorization, with the rich brown of wood and skin set off against the black and white original studio backdrop. On the back, one owner has pencilled in "Hindu Bourgeois."
Mumbai Bombay
Gosavi (Ascetic)
A very early postcard printed in India. Gosavi is a Marathi word that refers to someone who has renounced worldly pleasures and wears garments of the "brick-dust" color shown here.
A Money Lender
"The stranger unacquainted with conditions in India, and visiting Bombay for the first time, cannot fail to be impressed by an inspection of the huge assortment of books which Messrs D B Taraporevala, Sons and Co find it necessary to keep in hand to
A Parsee Lady
Parsi women were a popular subject—progressive women with traditional virtues, counterpoints to the nautch girl. This Parsi Lady is holding what could be a postcard.
Shakuntala Patra-Lekhana
[Original caption] Shakuntala writing a love letter. Shakuntala while she was dwelling in a forest, near the river. Malini writes a letter on a lotus leaf to Deshyanta feeling doubtful if he loved her. [end]
From one of the best known paintings by
Snake Charmer
Snake charmers are one of the most common early Indian postcard subjects, and this must be one of the earliest and most beautiful such views. Note the clever use of the palm backdrop to create the illusion of depth, and the rich use of red.
Vegetable Boat, Dhal Lake, Kashmir
An early postcard of Kashmir, likely from a Fred Bremner photograph as many other of the firm's postcards of this region were.
Parvati Temple, Poona
Parvati Temple is located on the Parvati hillock of Pune. The 17th century Parvati Temple was the private religious shrine of the former Peshwa dynasty.
Muhafiz Khan Mosque. Ahmedabad
Postmarked 1912, an example how a creative sender could use stamps to add their own historical touch to a a postcard.
Sheik Memon Street (Native Town), Bombay
B. Rigold and Bergmann were a London firm (69, Bishopsgate, London, E.C.), apparently established in 1876 that traded with India and China.
