Photographs, 1900, 1905-1907

Scope and content:

This series contains 146 photographs taken by Roundell Tristram Toke while he was in military service in China (1900) and Japan (1905-1907). Frequent handwritten captions by Toke indicate the settings and locations; these have been transcribed by library staff.

The 103 loose photographs in this group are all early gelatin silver prints measuring approximately 3x4 inches with some minor variations. The earliest are contact prints. Judging from the two envelopes marked with Captain Toke's name, the developing was done by the Kusakabe Kimbei studio in Tokyo or Yokohama. The first prints in this group are four hand-colored photographs of three geishas and a garden; although the size and similarity of these to the other photographs indicate they may have been taken by Toke, the hand-tinting may be the work of the Kimbei studio. Also present in the first few photographs is a small full-length standing portrait of Lieutenant Colonel Toke in dress uniform.

A group of 42 gelatin silver prints of images taken in China shortly after July or August 1900 are associated with the Boxer Rebellion, with about half showing scenes of the aftermath. Most of these prints are larger in size. They were tightly rolled when received, and have been given conservation treatment to flatten them.

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