Marrin's Bookshop

Item Description

In brown card wrapper with coloured oval photographic portrait fixed to front wrapper. A little wear to extremities, but otherwise a very good copy. Illustrated by 16 leaves of black and white photographic plates with captions below. A compilation of photographic portraits of Maori men and women, including chiefs and a chieftainess, mostly wearing traditional costume. From the captions on and below the photographs, it appears the the great majority were the products of two studios, whose ethnographic images of Maoris were in much demand at the time. Burton Bros. of Dunedin existed 1886-1914; Thomas Muir and George Moodie began as photographers for the firm, later became partners and from, 1914-16 took over the business before it closed down. Iles Photos was founded by Arthur James Isles (1870-1943), who operated at various times from Thames, Auckland and Rotorua. A very scarce title.