The Paris Albums

Paris during the Belle Époque through the lens of an Englishman.

Found in a charity shop, these two small photographic albums contained a wealth of faded but restorable images. It is likely the photographs were taken by British pharmaceutical chemist William Maskew in the 1890s – some time between the Paris Exposition of 1889 and the Paris Exposition of 1900. The albums contain 67 4″ x 3″ (100 x 75mm) images of mainly Parisian scenes.

The two ‘Paris Albums’ with images taken by pharmaceutical chemist and “pharmaceutical archeaologist” William Maskew

What do we know about the albums?

Part of a broader collection that was donated to the charity shop we were fortunate enough to be put in touch with a family member. The collection was compiled by chemist Marmaduke Richards who was born in Radford, Nottinghamshire in 1873. While he was certainly a photographer, we believe the photographic collection combines some of the work of pharmaceutical chemist William Maskew (born 1870) as well. Richards took on the management of Maskew’s chemist branch at 451 Stockport Road, Longsight, Manchester in the summer of 1896 with “the premises have been newly fitted, electric light introduced, and a photographic department added”, according to The Chemist and Druggist Magazine. By September 1896, however, it seems the business was sold again to a Mr Andrew Gilmour. So, it is clear that Richards and Maskew had a strong business relationship we might also assume that they could have been close friends. As to who took what images, that is harder to say, but as we find out more from the images and their lives we will, hopefully, be able to come to some firmer conclusions.

While the majority of the images in these albums are of Paris, a few are nearer to home. This image of Maskew’s chemist shop on Stockport Road, Longsight, shows that photography was a key aspect of the business, with photographic supplies on sale, prints on display and an image of an x-ray of a hand – x-rays being something of a craze in the late 1880s and 1890s and one to prove fatal for many photographers and chemists until the dangers of radiation were better understood by the turn of the century.

Our assumption that it was Maskew that took the Paris images is based on what we have found out about him so far. After qualifying as a chemist in 1892 he was for some time Senior Assistant at Pharmacy Swann in Paris, a well-known Anglo-American business on the Rue de Castiglione. He also travelled constantly throughout his life, often writing reviews of chemist shops (and in particular their window displays) from around Europe and antiquarian pharmaceutical articles for The Chemist and Druggist magazine. After selling his businesses in Manchester he opened several chemist businesses in Clacton-on-Sea (at 163 West Avenue Road and Electric Avenue), travelling to Europe during the winter season, and sold the business in 1914 to become an antique dealer. An “active worker in the public interest” in Clacton, Maskew often gave lectures, illustrated with lantern slides in aid of charity, such as Through the Continent with a Camera in 1912.

William Maskew’s premises at 451 Stockport Road, Longstaff, Manchester.

Some of the Paris images

A winter scene at the Arc de Triomphe. The woman in the foreground is more likely to be William Maskew’s wife Agnes Annie (Smith), married in 1898. Marmaduke Richards married his wife, Bertha Agnes (Falkner) in 1905. © historyreunited.org / Hunter Gatherer Ltd.

Some of the Paris images

Eglise Saint-Etienne du Mont, which contains the shrine of St Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris. © historyreunited.org / Hunter Gatherer Ltd.

At the Eiffel Tower with the Trocadéro in the distance. Please let us know if you are able to date this image. © historyreunited.org / Hunter Gatherer Ltd.

A curious photograph of a parade float that may be key to dating these images – possibly part of the Cavacade du Boeuf gras which took place the Sunday before Mardi Gras, which takes place 47 days before Easter. We were able to determine the location of the photograph as the Hotel Dominici, 7-9 Rue de Castiglione. Pharmacie Swan, where William Maskew worked, was at 6 Rue de Castiglione.

Hopefully some with a better knowledge if late 19th century French politics can help but we’re wondering if the tableau is meant to represent Charles Dupo, an Opportunist Republican, who was three-times Prime Minister of France (4 April 1893 – 3 December 1893; 30 May 1894 – 26 January 1895; 1 November 1898 – 22 June 1899) and acting President of France (25 June – 27 June 1894; 16 January – 17 January 1895; and 16 February – 18 February 1899). Please let us know what you think.
© historyreunited.org / Hunter Gatherer Ltd.

Église Saint-Augustin on Boulevard Malesherbes in the 8th arrondissement. © historyreunited.org / Hunter Gatherer Ltd.

The original Joan of Arc statue in Place des Pyramides by Emmanuel Frémiet – completed in 1874 and “temporarily removed” in 1898 to make way for metro construction works. The staue was discreetly swapped for a new version, in secret, in the early hours of 16 May 1899. © historyreunited.org / Hunter Gatherer Ltd.

Place de la Concorde. © historyreunited.org / Hunter Gatherer Ltd.

Pont du Carrousel – completed in 1834, replaced in the 1930s. © historyreunited.org / Hunter Gatherer Ltd.

Identified British locations

Tower of Refuge, St. Mary’s Isle, Douglas Bay, Isle of Man. This image could have been taken the same trip as the Ramsay photographs. © historyreunited.org / Hunter Gatherer Ltd.

Vine Cottages, Colney Hatch lane, Friern Barnet. Demolished after a fire in 1909, apparently caused during the production of local film-maker Robert Paul’s last film, The Burning Home. Making this fire rescue drama led to a real fire. For more on Robert Paul visit: https://paulsanimatographworks.wordpress.com/page/3

Unidentified British locations

Help reunite history

If you have any information on William Maskew and Marmaduke Richards or have any information to contribute to this story, please get in touch. We love a rabbit hole too, so we’re very happy to include links to sites that relate to this story.