A beautiful set of Davies’ 48 photogravure plates depicting the Norfolk Broads still in their original portfolios as first issued, with a distinguished Norfolk provenance. These beautiful and evocative photographs by ‘the man who found the Broads’, (Charles Carrodus) are the works of the first of the great Broads photographers and a landmark in English photography. PROVENANCE: Both portfolios bear the bookplate of the noted Norfolk bibliophile Ronald Fiske although they were not sold at his posthumous dispersal sale and derive here from the collection of the late John Anthony Benjafield (1938-2023), photohistorian who has left numerous ephemera with this set including an advertisement for an exhibition of this set in Norwich.
FIRST PORTFOLIO in its original half cloth, printed portfolio, rubbed and lacking ties. On the front pastedown is written the set number: ‘No 16’ - of 250 sets on ‘plain paper’, with Ron Fiske’s modern armorial bookplate below. The portfolio contains 24 photogravures printed by T & R Annan after Davies, loose as issued. Very small printed captions pasted onto the lower left corners of each and pencilled plate numbers together with an additional pen number. Each plate has a tissue guard. This sequence follows the route of the Wensum out of Norwich via Thorpe and then onto the Yare at Whitlingham, Postwick, Surlingham, Buckingham Ferry with a little group of images around Wroxham and Salhouse rounding out the set.
SECOND PORTFOLIO, original half pebbled cloth with portfolio ties, very good condition, inscribed by ‘A F Buxton 1885’ at head of cover - probably Alfred Fowell Buxton (1854-1952) Number ‘110’ of 250 copies on the front pastedown with Ron Fiske’s bookplate below. Some spotting to mounts of "Barton Staithe", "Fritton Lake", "Wildfowl Decoy at Fritton. Looking Up Pipe" and "Wildfowl Decoy at Fritton”. Mounts labelled as above.
Now housed in a modern cloth drop-back box.
