Switzerland and the Alps
Views of William England for the Alpine Club

 
 

William England was chief photographer for the London Stereoscopic Company and made many important series from the late 1850s onward. The Swiss views for the Alpine Club were produced between 1863 and 1868. To quote William C. Darrah, 'The World of Stereographs': 'Without question, the series by William England, published under the patronage of the Alpine Club, stand foremost. The first set of 130 numbers, published in 1863, was lavishly praised. England returned to Switzerland and Tyrol in 1865 and 1867 and photographed extensively, ultimately producing more than 550 numbers'.

The chronology of these views is somewhat more complicated than previously thought. Tex Treadwell in Institute of Photographic Research  view list series 5, 8th edition, May 2002, believed that the Switzerland series was enlarged to Switzerland and Savoy and then to Switzerland, Savoy and Italy, basically within the same series. From my research I believe the actual situation to be as follows:

An initial series was produced titled 'Views of Switzerland'. This was then re-published as 'Switzerland and Savoy' with further views added. The title printing on this second series is different; the first series was in brown capitals and small capitals thus: 'SWITZERLAND'; the second series was in red and all in capitals thus: 'SWITZERLAND AND SAVOY'. These all seem to bear the same titles as the first series but many have been re-photographed.

Treadwell indicates that when 'ITALY' was added in 1867 the title was only used on views numbered higher than #347. This is not the case as I have #1 and other low numbers. Some titles of the series which includes Italy are totally different to Treadwell's list as are some of the views.
We therefore have a totally separate series.  On the basis of a strictly limited number of views, this series seems to be further subdivided as follows:
1. On left 'By permission dedicated to the Alpine Club'. On right 'Views of Italy, Switzerland, and Savoy'. Title in brown ink, capitals and small capitals, view titles and numbers not matching the Switzerland series. Views seen of Italy only.
2. On left 'Views of Switzerland, Savoy and Italy' (note different order). On right - same in French. No mention of Alpine Club. Titles in red capitals. Views and titles matching the Switzerland series.
3. One high-number view is as variant 2 but with title incorporated in neg.

Finally, there is another series, THE TYROL (A Choice Selection of Scenes in The Tyrol), comprising, according to Treadwell, 79 views. The printing on these titles is the same as the original Switzerland series EXCEPT that it is all capitals and not capitals and small caps. The actual view number on this series is in larger type (possibly a handstamp) or is handwritten in red ink. The printing is embossed often losing the ink leaving only the embossing. A further, unconnected series, is THE RHINE, comprising 80 views.

Yes, I know, Get a life.

Alpine views numbered 1-130 were probably produced in 1863, the rest in either 1865 or 1867 although one of these views is dated August 1869. The printing of the titles left something to be desired on these and often the view # is not clear. I have used the list of the late and sorely-missed Tex Treadwell to confirm unclear numbers.
 

All William England Alpine Series views are in numerical order. These are titled either 'Under the Special Patronage of the Alpine Club' or 'By Permission: Dedicated to the Alpine Club'. Where two numbers appear on different views, one has the first dedication and the other the second.

A new book “William England – Views of Switzerland – A Collector’s Catalogue” is now available on lulu.com which provides more detail on William England and catalogues over 500 of his views reproduced in half scale in black and white (a colour version is available at a higher price).

Please ensure that you use the order # and not the view # when ordering.
 


9. Lac du Geneve pres de Chillon, Hotel Byron.
Condition 8.
Order #12931.
Price $18.
 


13. Chateau Chilllon, Lac du Geneve (3).
Condition 8.
Order #12932.
Price $18.
 


14. Chateau Chilllon,  Prison de Bonnivard.
Condition 7.
Order #12933.
Price $15.
 


17. Vue du Geneve et du Rhone (2).
Condition 8.
Order #12934.
Price $18.
 


18. Vue du Geneve et du Rhone (3).
Condition. This has been slightly cut down and mounted on thick card.
Order #12935.
Price $12.
 


21. Interieur de la Cathedrale de Lausanne (1).
Condition 7.
Order #12936.
Price $12.
 
 


43. La Dome du Gote, vallee du Chamounix, Savoie.
Condition 7/8.
Order #12938.
Price $18.
 


44. L'Auguille du Goute. Vallee du Chamounix, Savoie.
Condition 6.
Order #12939.
Price $12.
 


49. Hotel d'Angleterre, Chamounix, Savoie.
Condition 7.
Order #12940.
Price $18.
 


54. Le Chateau de Martigny et la Vallee du Rhone.
Condition 9.
Order #12941.
Price $18.
 


56. Vallee du Rhone prise de la Tour de vieux Chateau a Martigny.
Condition, Horizontal cut in the image at top of left image.
Order #12942.
Price $8.
 


58. Gorge de Trient a Martigny, Suisse (1).
Condition 9.
Order #12943.
Price $24.
 


59. Gorge du Trient a Martigny, Suisse (2).
Condition 9.
Order #12944.
Price $24.
 


59. Gorge du Trient a Martigny, Suisse (2). Variant.
Condition 8.
Order #12945.
Price $22.
 


59. Gorge du Trient a Martigny, Suisse (2). Variant.
Condition. Processing shadows in water.
Order #12946.
Price $18.
 


59. Gorge du Trient vernayaz pres de Martigny, Suisse (2). Variant.
Condition 8/9.
Order #12947.
Price $22.
 
 


66. Le Matterhornet le Gorner Glacier - Zermatt.
Condition 9.
Order #12949.
Price $22.
 

View #77 was popular and there are several variants with the people posed in different positions. Here are three.


77. Panorama d'Interlaken et de la Jungfrau, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #12951.
Price $18.
 


77. Panorama d'Interlaken et de la Jungfrau, Suisse. Variant.
Condition 7.
Order #12952.
Price $15.
 


77. Panorama d'Interlaken et de la Jungfrau, Suisse. Variant.
Condition 8.
Order #12953.
Price $18.
 


79. Vue d'Interlaken et de la Jungfrau.
Condition 8.
Order #12954.
Price $18.
 
 


80. Panorama d'Unterseen, Interlaken.
Condition 7 (slight spotting).
Order #12955.
Price $15.
 


84. Panorama de Interlaken, Suisse (2).
Condition 8.
Order #12956.
Price $18.
 


84. Panorama de Interlaken, Suisse (2). Variant.
Condition 8.
Order #12957.
Price $18.
 


85. Panorama de Interlaken (3).
Condition 7.
Order #12958.
Price $15.
 


89. Le Wetterhorn dans la Vallee de Grindelwald, Suisse.
Condition 8/9.
Order #12959.
Price $22.
 


90. Vue du Wetterhorn a Grindelwald.
Condition. Surface scratches.
Order #12960.
Price $8.
 


98. La vallee de Lauterbrunnen, Suisse (1).
Condition 7 (mount clipped at top).
Order #12962.
Price $15.
 


98. La vallee de Lauterbrunnen, Suisse (1). Variant.
Condition 8.
Order #12963.
Price $18.
 


98. La vallee de Lauterbrunnen, Suisse (1). Variant.
Condition 8.
Order #12964.
Price $18.
 


99. La vallee de Lauterbrunnen, Suisse (2).
Condition 8.
Order #12965.
Price $18.
 


100. Vue dans la Vallee de Lauterbrunnen.
Condition 8.
Order #12966.
Price $22.
 


102. Wengern Alpes, Lauterbrunnen.
Condition 8/9.
Order #12967.
Price $22.
 
 


103. Chute du Staubbach, Vallee de Lauterbrunnen, Suisse. Variant.
Condition. Slight loss to corner of mount.
Order #12968.
Price $18.
 


106. La chute superieure de Reichenbach.
Condition 9.
Order #12969.
Price $22.
 
 


109. Gorge et Chute de Rosenlaui, Suisse. Artist looking down at his easel.
Condition 8/9.
Order #12970.
Price $22.
 


109. Gorge et Chute de Rosenlaui, Suisse. Artist looking up at the scene.
Condition 8/9.
Order #12971.
Price $22.
 


112. Vue pres de Rosenlaui.
Condition 5.
Order #12972.
Price $5.
 


116. Panorama de Thun pris du Pavillon.
Condition 7.
Order #12973.
Price $12.
 
 


119. Vue prise du Chateau de Thun, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #12974.
Price $24.
 
 


121. Chateau de Ober-Ofen sur le Lac de Thun, Suisse.
Condition 9.
Order #12975.
Price $22.
 


123. Panorama de Berne (1).
Condition 8.
Order #12976.
Price $18.
 


126. Vue de la Terasse et de la Cathedrale de Berne.
Condition 7.
Order #12977.
Price $12.
 


128. Le Pont du Gotteron a Fribourg.
Condition 8.
Order #12978.
Price $18.
 


133. Interieure de la Cathedrale de Lucerne, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #12979.
Price $24.
 
 


143. Monument du Lion, Lucerne.
Condition 9.
Order #12980.
Price $12.
 
 


145. Wiggis sur le Lac de Lucerne, Suisse (1).
Condition 8 (some small black processing spots).
Order #12981.
Price $15.
 


146. Wiggis sur le Lac de Lucerne, Suisse (2).
Condition. Some marks in sky area and processing spots.
Order #12982.
Price $12.
 


147. Interieur de l'Eglise de Jesuites, Lucerne, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #12983.
Price $22.
 


149. Fluelen, Canton  d'Uri, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #12984.
Price $18.
 


159. Statue de Guillaume Tell, Altdorf, Canton d'Uri, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #12986.
Price $18.
 


170. La chute du Rhin, Schaffhouse, Suisse (3).
Condition 8.
Order #12987.
Price $18.
 
 


171. La Chute du Hin, Schaffhouse (4).
Condition 7.
Order #12988.
Price $12.
 


173. Le village et la vallee de Linththal
Condition 8.
Order #12989.
Price $18.
 


176. Chute de Fatschbach, vallee de Linththal, Suisse.
Condition 7.
Order #12990.
Price $12.
 


179. Vallee de la Linth, pris de l'Hotel de Stachelberg, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #12991.
Price $18.
 


180. Stachelberg, vallee de la Linth, Canton de Glarus, Suisse.
Condition 6/7.
Order #12992.
Price $12.
 


181. Gorge de Pfafers (1).
Condition 9.
Order #12993.
Price $22.
 


181. Gorge de Pfafers (4).
Condition. Ignore the strange yellow hue BUT there are image losses (white marks) on the left image.
Order #12994.
Price $18.
 


185. Entree de la  Gorge de Pfafers, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #12995.
Price $18.
 


188. Vue pres de Ragatz, Suisse.
Condition 9.
Order #12996.
Price $22.
 
 


188. Vue pres de Ragatz, Suisse. Variant.
Condition 8.
Order #12997.
Price $15.
 


189. Gorge de la Tomina, Ragatz, Suisse.
Condition 8/9.
Order #12998.
Price $22.
 


196. Galerie sur la route de la Via Mala, Suisse.
Condition 7 (a couple of light stains).
Order #12999.
Price $12.
 


197. Le tunel du Trou Perdu, Via Mala, Suisse.
Condition 9.
Order #13000.
Price $22.
 
 


198. Vue du Premier Pont, Via Mala, Suisse.
Condition 9.
Order #13201.
Price $22.
 


199. Pont du milieu pris du Found de la Crevasse, Via Mala, Suisse.
Condition 7.
Order #13202.
Price $12.
 
 


200. Vue dans la Via Mala, Suisse.
Condition 9.
Order #13203.
Price $15.
 


201. Pont de Milieu dans la Via Mala, Suisse (1).
Condition 8.
Order #13204.
Price $15.
 


202. Pont du Milieu dans la Via Mala, Suisse (2).
Condition 8.
Order #13205.
Price $18.
 
 


240. Cascade dans la gorge de l'Eau Noire pres de Martigny, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #13209.
Price $15.
 


247. La chapelle de l'Hospice du Grand St Bernard, Suisse.
Condition 9.
Order #13210.
Price $28.
 


257. Panorama de Vevey.
Condition 8.
Order #13211.
Price $18.
 


259. La Dent du Midi et le Lac de Geneve, pres de Chillon.
Condition 8.
Order #13212.
Price $18.
 
 


268. Le Chalet du Giessbach, Suisse.
Condition 9.
Order #13213.
Price $22.
 
 


302. Interieure de la Caverne de Glace at Grindelwald. Note man standing.
Condition 8.
Order #13214.
Price $15.
 


321. Interieur de l'Eglise de Stans, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #13216.
Price $18.
 


322. Monument de Weinkelried a Stans, par Schloth, Suisse.
Condition 8.
Order #13217.
Price $18.
 


342. L'interieure de la Cathedrale de Haute-Combe, pres d'Aix-le-Bains, Savoie.
Condition 7.
Order #13218.
Price $15.
 

To the other William England series of Switzerland, Savoy and Italy and Rhine views
 

To order, note order # and price and click here
 

To Underwood views of mountains and climbers
 

To Underwood views of cities, towns and people
 

To curved mount views by publishers other than Underwood
 

To views by Braun, Tairraz, Savioz, Charnaux, Gabler and Lamy
 

To various flat mount views.
 

To early views and views by Stephen Thompson and B.W. Kilburn
 

To glass views
 
 

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