Cabinet Portrait Gallery

A collection of portraits (carbon prints), each 80 x 140 mm, mounted on cards, 200 x 260 mm. They were published in a monthly series, each issue containing three portraits with accompanying text. This collection comprises 20 issues (12, 22, 25-30, 43-47, 49-55, 1890-1894) all but no. 55 with texts, but six portraits are missing; in addition nos. 49 and 50 are loose plates without text. The number of each part is shown at the end of each entry.

The firm 'W. and D. Downey' was active from 1860-1900. They were one of the leading firms of portrait photographers in the second half of the nineteenth century and were involved in the production of 'carte de visite' photographs. Their studio was at 57 and 61 Ebury Street, London.

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Presented by Donald Simpson, 1950.

Includes index.

A catalogue of the collection can be found on ArchiveSearch.

This collection is available on microfiche: General Collections, fiche number 16-17.

All are in good condition, but one or two mounts are slightly damaged.

This item level description was entered by KS and MJC using information from the original typescript catalogue.

W and D Downey