Queen's Mosque, Ahmedabad
Among the earliest postcards – and certainly early color postcards – of Ahmedabad is this view of Rani Rupamati's Mosque, built in the early 15th century and still standing.
Among the earliest postcards – and certainly early color postcards – of Ahmedabad is this view of Rani Rupamati's Mosque, built in the early 15th century and still standing.
Timber was mostly used as a building material and for making furniture. Power tools and machines are available to make life easier for carpenters today, but a century ago, specialized workmen plying their trade were a popular postcard theme.
One of the most popular early postcards of Parsees was this arresting composite portrait by Clifton & Co. The original albumen likely dates to the late 1890s.
A well-reserved "Lichtdruck" in German or "light-print" which offers the touch of a painted work for one anna.
"Thousands of these carts, all over Bombay. 14/4/06"
A nicely composed postcard showing the progression in the size of ocean-going vessels, from the small boat in the foreground, to the larger ship on right, and even larger ship in the distance on the left.
"Kodaikanal (Kody), though not so quite fashionable as Ooty," wrote Eustace Reynolds Hall in The Tourist's India (1907) "is rapidly coming into favour.
A postcard where the angle and architecture combine effectively to represent the role an institution once played in India's political and social life.
Clifton's later postcards, especially his candid photographs in the bazaars of Mussoorie, are among his most interesting. There is a blur to man on the right, suggesting this came from a longer-exposure albumen photograph.
The still and clear water of Dal Lake was ideal for catching fish using a spear instead of line, hook and bait. Most families living permanently on boats have small kitchens on board where the fresh catch from the lake is turned into flavored dishes.