Eighty-one years ago today this little girl sat in The Waltur Studios, 141a High Street, Walthamstow, London E17 for a portrait. It was a few days after her First Birthday.
She doesn’t look much like she enjoyed the experience.
I’ve no idea what The Waltur Studios charged my gandparents for this sitting or the couple of prints that survive but I’m sure that to them it wasn’t insignificant. Given what I know of their circumstances, it wouldn’t surprise me if they went without something else to pay for these.
It was a gift to my generation that it’s now impossible to put a value on.
They obviously thought it was important to get a photographic record of their only daughter on her First Birthday. In fact, considering the times they were pretty good at taking (and keeping photos). My Dad have me a whole tin of pics from my Mum’s younger days. If there was a fire (and everyone else was safe)- this is one of the first things I’d want to save (along with my own pics of my own family).
What makes this one truely unique is that The Waltur Studios printed their details on the back of the print and stamped the date ’26 Nov 1932′.
It’s been our policy to sign, date and identify each of our prints. They are printed with professional ink and paper which is certified by the manufacturers for over 100 years (assuming you look after them). I want you and your kids to enjoy these prints just as much as I enjoy having this picture of my Mum