Commissioned album with 77 original mounted photographs mounted on stiff card-stock, each with handwritten caption, locale and image number on mount below image. 38 of the images are large, approx. 20x28 cm (8x11") or a bit smaller; 35 are small, approx. 10x15 cm (4x6"), and 4 are medium size. Mounted on 20 leaves, the album measures 31x40 cm (12¼x16"), original full black morocco tooled & lettered in gilt, rebacked with later leather, spine lettered in gilt, all edges gilt.
Exceptional photograph album recording a tour of the Viceroy of India through the heart of the subcontinent, with city views and panoramas, temples, palaces, visits with local rulers, ancient forts and ruins, troops on camels, and more. Lala Deen Dayal, also known as Raja Deen Dayal, who created the album, was an Indian photographe whose career began in the mid-1870s. He became the court photographer to the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad, Mahbub Ali Khan, Asif Jah VI, who awarded him the title Musawwir Jung Raja Bahadur, and he was appointed as the photographer to the Viceroy of India in 1885.
Condition:
Some rubbing and wear to covers, but quite sound; album leaves with some darkening and marginal staining, photographs with occasional fading or toning, overall very good.