1894-1899 The Camera Series Album Of Photo-Lithographic Views of Southport. Oblong hardback very rare from the Camera photo series in concertina style old photographs
Key Dating Evidence:
UK Registered Design / Patent No. 227765: The number printed at the bottom of the front cover (PATENT COVER Nº 227765) refers to a UK Registered Design for the cloth cover binder format granted in early 1894. This provides a definitive earliest possible year (terminus post quem).
Historical Landmarks in Photos:
The Switchback Railway & Recreation Ground: The Switchback Railway seen in the lower photo of Image 8 was erected at Southport’s Marine Drive / Promenade around 1887–1888 and remained popular through the 1890s.
The Aerial Flight & Lake: The Aerial Flight (cable ride/slide) over the Marine Lake shown in Image 7 was a popular late-Victorian attraction installed in 1892.
The Municipal Buildings & Cambridge Hall: Cambridge Hall (now part of The Atkinson) was opened in 1874, appearing here alongside the Town Hall built in 1853.
2. Publisher Information
Publisher: Brown & Rawcliffe (Exchange Works, Pall Mall, Liverpool). They were prominent late 19th-century chromo-lithographers and commercial printers.
Photographer Credits: The images in your album credit local photographers R. Brown, Liverpool and Poulton & Son, London (bottom corners of the photo mounts).
The "Camera" Series: This was a collectible range of souvenir "view books" published by Brown & Rawcliffe covering popular Victorian seaside resorts, cities, and scenic regions across the UK.
