R W Billings 1813 to 1874

Before commercial photography, the norm was albums of engraved prints, such as these 8 prints of St Magnus Cathedral. The Bishop's Palace & The Earl's Palace, Kirkwall, Orkney as well as Noltland Castle. They were published with 8 pages of descriptive letterpress. Dated 1848

Available at £45

George Washington Wilson

Photographs of Orkney by G.W.Wilson & Co. Aberdeen
An album of 12 prints, in a folded booklet. Date unknown, but as the booklet refers to the use of a new photographic process it is probably c.1910

Available at £60

Joseph Banks

In 1772 Joseph Banks landed at Stromness, returning from his 'Northern Journey' to the Hebrides and Iceland. Whilst here he was escorted by the naturalist George Low, and they are known to have visited Skail and the Ring of Brodgar. Banks' notes on the Hebrides were used in Pennant's lengthy work on those islands, and the Icelandic studies were used by Von Troil in his book. Yet nothing seems to have ever been published about Orkney. Banks own diary abrubtly ends with his departure from Iceland. Yet there are some stunning water colours of sights in Orkney, as well as surveys, and details of excavations carried out at Skail - more can be found in John Bonehill's excellent work "New scenes drawn by the pencil of Truth’: Joseph Banks' northern voyage". Apart from a paper published by Averil Lysaught "Jospeh Banks at Skara Brae & Stennis" in 1974 we have been unable to find anything else. The water colour here is by James Cleveley "View of the semicircle on the Banks of Stenhouse Lake in the Island of Pomona" and was executed by him in 1772 - Cleveley was one of the artists who accompanied Banks on his Northern Journey.

Thomas Kent 1863- 1936

Born in Eday.
This album contains 18 sepia print views of Orkney c.1920

Available at £40

Pennant

In Pennant's Arctic Zoology there are two engravings that present views from Orkney. These were possibly commisioned by Jospeh Banks, who stayed in Stromness before proceeding on his Arctic Voyage. George Low guided Banks to various sites of interest in Orkney, and later passed his notes to Pennant his his use. These were copied from the part set that we have for sale in the shop.

Available at £350

James Valentine 1815 - 1879

10 albumen prints of Orkney Views in an original souvenir album. The images have been enhanced as they are very faded.
They measure approximately 14cm x 10cm.
James Valentine's plates were rescued from his studio in Finstown and are now held by St Andrews University.

Available at £80

James Valentine Large Album containing 11 views of Orkney and 1 of a Shetland Croft. Albumen print size approximately 19cm x 14cm, housed in a superior sturdy album.

Two available at £50 and £100

Postcards of Orkney

All these images are taken from postcards, which are regualrly on sale in the shop