The Museum, Calcutta
The ninth oldest museum in the world and the oldest in India, what is now known as the Indian Museum Kolkata was started in 1814 by the Asiatic Society of Bengal. A Danish botanist, Nathaniel Wallich, is considered its founder.
1900-1909
Bombay Victoria Terminus
[Original caption] Victoria Terminus, Bombay (City). Bombay is by far the most European in appearance of all the cities of India. Extensive lines of tramway pass through the broad city streets that are continuously lined with splendid buildings.
The Roberts Statue, Calcutta
From the earliest Tuck's Kolkata postcard series, when the firm did not print its later standard captions on the back of each card.
The Albert Museum, Jaipur
Compare this to an earlier color postcard of the Albert Museum by the same firm from the same image, made when color printing of postcards from photographs was much less sophisticated, at least on a level where costs were low enough for mass consumer
The Albert Museum, Jeypore
A very early postcard of Jaipur, made from an albumen print, title and photographer visible in white where it was inscribed onto the albumen negative. The color was applied through hand-tinting. Compare to a colorized postcard of the same image made
The Pontoon Bridge on the Hooghly. Calcutta.
The pontoon bridge that bound the railway station and other sites on the farther bank of the Hooghly river to the main city in the foreground (it was replaced in the late 1930s by the iron Howrah Bridge). While this postcard was likely from a
Martund Temple, Kashmir
The Hindu Martand Temple, built during the 8th century, was dedicated to Surya the Sun Goddess.
A Marwari Woman
A classic Dhurandhar portrait. The growing metropolis of Bombay with its modern buildings form the backdrop to a fully formed character, in traditional dress, with a quizzical expression on her face. Does she understand what is happening around her?
Interior of Taj, Agra
[Original caption] Interior of Taj, Agra. One of the most graceful and most impressive sepulchres in the world.
Famous Nautch Girl
This postcard actually shows Gohar Jan, India's first gramophone recorded artist (1902) and the most famous singer of her time.
