Hindu Religious Beggar
A striking studio portrait in which the viewer's eyes are drawn by to subject's wide-open gaze. Was he asked not to blink? Or did the photographer amend the negative?
Religion
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.
The Incomparable Mandalay
One can only applaud the sender of this postcard, the careful positioning of the stamp, the postmark which seems to be from 1923. The card was not addressed, so was either sent in an envelope or kept.
Toda Temple
This Toda temple still stands and is in use. The photographer's lettering scratched into the negative echoes the camera tilt.
Shravak Temple, Girnar
One of the earliest postcards of this collection of Jain Temples which date from roughly the 8th century through 15th century, although there is apparently evidence of the area as a site of pilgrimage from the 3rd century BCE.
Parsee Priest
A curious and perhaps not inadvertent confrontation between a Parsi priest and Queen Victoria, he seems to be asking her for something.
The Golden Temple, Amritzar
One of the earliest postcards of India published by a British-based firm, F. Hartmann & Co.
Lakshmi
A exquisitely hand painted postcard, with the title "Lakshmi, or Sri, wife of Vishnu, goddess of fortune," penned by the sender, likely a European.
The Mall with Church (Murree)
The Holy Trinity Church on the Mall was consecrated in May of 1857, just as the "Mutiny" or first War of Independence against British rule began.
Babu Badridas' Jain Temple, Calcutta
One of the most popular early views of Kolkata, this Jain is dedicated to Sitalnathji, the 10th of the 24 Jain tirthankaras.
