Curiously this view was not one of the more popular Clifton & Co. postcards, one of the first publishers in the city, despite its many scenes and informational value. From the building columns and the firm's location it is likely to be from Bombay.
An early multi-coloured view of Varanasi.
Many early Bombay postcards focused on the cotton trade, the source, with opium, of much of the city's early wealth.
Given how ubiquitous the trope of snake charmers and India was in popular Western culture in the early 20th century, it is refreshing to find that they are not as common in postcards as one might expect. True, major publishers like Clifton & Co.
An early keyhole postcard view of Marine Drive, probably from a photograph made in the 1890s.
A gorgeously coloured collotype with the anonymous note on the front: "They are nearly as nice as ruby lips. best."
It is hard to over estimate the importance of Rabindranath Tagore at the beginning of the 20th century.
The two boats in the foreground distinguish this view of Varanasi.
Among the earliest postcards of Bombay from a photograph. One can see the title and photographer inscribed at the bottom of the original glass negative, and the hand-tinting is done in large blocks.
Knife grinders are a vanishing craft. Doing this at home before electric knife sharpeners was difficult. Knife grinders would take their sharpening wheels from door to door and take care of the problem.
An earlier postcard view, before divided backs
