Abstract
Abstract Albums of the sketches of public characters fascinated the Victorians, and one often comes across titles such as The Portrait Gallery of the Female Nobility, The Celebrated Women of All Countries, Portraits of the Principal Characters in the Waverltry Novels, or The Shakespeare Gallery in publishers' catalogues.1 Thus, for instance, Emily Eden, sister of Lord Auckland, Governor-General of India from 1836-42, who spent the years of her brother's tenure with him in India, published her Portraits of the People and Princes of India in 1844. In 1851 Lithographic Sketches of the Public Characters of Calcutta, 1838-50 appeared in Calcutta. The sketches were by Colesworthy Grant and the book was reprinted in 1853. Then came photography, and with it photographic albums: ‘The photographic album was a Victorian household article, a means of whiling away the time with boring visitors.’22
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