A magical and perhaps unmatched group of Bourne images. The albums contain most of the key genre and architectural images (and some very strong scenes), some of which I haven't seen elsewhere. Two matching albums. Almost all India (a couple of Burma) and nearly all Bourne, Shepard, or Bourne & Shepard. Very good, largely clean albums (some scattered light foxing mostly only on album pages, but not much), with all of his best images in fine tones. Well bound in leather in very fine condition with "India" on the spine. 47 images in the first album, and the other matching album has 50 images, for a total of 97 images in all. The only remotedly comparible Borne album/s that have come on the market was Bourne's personal album that was sold at the Gujral sale just after 9/11 in 2001.

According to Indian photography expert Hugh Rayner, "There are a few non B&S images there; some of the Nautch girls: 12769b , d, i, o, are by someone else, and I don't recognise them. The Tibetan group and one or two similar ones are by Shepherd & Robertson, but the negs were taken over by B&S. The cave view: 2194, Bombay; 3 Headed figure in the Temple at Elephanta is definitely by either Bourne or Murray, (more probably Murray, judging by the dodgy reversed numbering; it seems to have taken him a while, after taking over from Bourne, to work out a new standardised B&S neg numbering system), and dates from their changeover period in Bombay in late 1870. I haven't seen it before and it's not listed in their published catalogues, but is substantially the same as 2195, and as it's numbered, if not signed, it fits in perfectly with the rest of the series. It's a nice set of Murray's Burma views; one or two of which are new to me. The other cave photo is almost certainly: B&S 2371 Burma, Moulmien & Salween River: Buddhist caves near Moulmien. Again I haven't seen it before, but it fits very well with the catalogue description.Shipping and insurance costs will be added to the price and must be paid for by the buyer. Pennsylvania buyers must pay appropriate local sales tax. International clients are responsible for their VAT and other custom's oriented charges.