More than a century ago, two visionaries, Henry John Elwes and Dr. Augustine Henry, embarked on a journey to capture the essence of British and Irish trees in an extraordinary endeavor. Their mission? To create a comprehensive visual guide, a treasure trove of arboreal knowledge. But here's where it gets intriguing: the story behind the images.
The result was the monumental seven-volume set, Trees of Great Britain and Ireland, a 2022-page masterpiece published between 1906 and 1913. It featured 412 captivating photographs and documented over 500 tree species. However, the original work's photographic aspect has remained largely unexplored, until now.
This new book, published by RRB PhotoBooks, shines a spotlight on the photography of the original volumes. It includes 64 litho-printed reproductions, accompanied by an insightful essay from photographic historian Michael Pritchard. The Victorian era's obsession with documenting the world, coupled with advancements in printing techniques and the artistic and scientific applications of photography, set the stage for this ambitious project.
Interestingly, despite photography being central to the original publication, only a handful of photographers were acknowledged. Mr. Wallis and Mr. Foster are mentioned in Elwes's typescript, but the contributions of other photographers remain uncredited. These photographers, under Elwes's guidance, captured images that objectively showcased the trees' shapes, characteristics, and contexts. They included people in the photographs to indicate scale, creating a consistent approach across the volumes.
But who were these uncredited photographers? And why were they not recognized for their work? This book raises questions about the historical recognition of photographers and the collaborative nature of such monumental projects.
The new edition is available in standard and special formats, the latter featuring a collotype print from the original book. And this is the part that brings the past to life, offering a unique glimpse into the world of Victorian botanical documentation.
Are you ready to delve into this captivating story of trees and the photographers who brought them to life? The journey awaits!
