Bombay
An early Italian or French postcard celebrating or advertising the city of Bombay. It also features a bicycle, then becoming popular in the city.
Undivided back
Fruit Seller
Note the rich character on this man's face in an image by M.V. Dhurandhar, one of India's most exceptional and prolific early 20th century painters and postcard artists.
Sent to Master E.
Jumma Masjid Bombay
Another exuberant, deftly rendered very early postcard by Paul Gerhardt, chief lithographer at the Ravi Varma Press in Bombay. Note the simply drawn mosque minarets, the colors that pull you in while the cart pushes out into the foreground space.
Golden Temple, Umritsar
This postcard is probably among the earliest of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, given the undivided back, and Clifton's role as one of the earliest all-India postcard publishers. It is probably from a 19th century albumen print.
This card was sent
Lahore, Zamzama Gun
The gun in front of Lahore Museum that was made famous in Rudyard Kipling's novel Kim which begins "He sat, in defiance of municipal orders, astride the gun Zam-Zammah on her brick platform opposite the old Aijab Ghar–the Wonder House, as the natives
Toddy Drawers
Toddy or palm wine as made from sap collected by climbers like this one in little pouches; fermentation was so fast in the humid air that a mildly alcoholic drink could be had in a few hours.
A Parsee Lady
Parsis in India originally came from Iran (Persia), and Parsi ladies were among the first Indian women to have had an active public life, no doubt helped by a high literacy rate in the community (there is a postcard or letter in the woman's hand).
Water Carrier
The bhistee or water carrier was a critical support to urban life before running water became widespread and reliable, and is one of the most frequent postcard subjects.
Mayo College
Mayo College in Ajmer, Rajasthan, which bills itself as the best boys boarding school in India, was founded in 1875 by the the 6th Earl of Mayo who was also the Viceroy of India from 1869 until 1872, when he was assassinated by a convict on the
[Theatrical Troupe, Murree]
![[Theatrical Troupe, Murree]](https://www.paperjewels.org/sites/default/files/styles/square_thumbnail/public/slides/murree-play_0.jpg?itok=McPjVbsy "[Theatrical Troupe, Murree]")
A real photo postcard presented with compliments from the Murree Brewery Company (note bucket in seated man's hands), and title in back in pencil "Camp Adonia." Likely to have been before 1905 because the back is undivided.
