Rare Victorian Scottish Banking Photograph Album – Clydesdale Bank / Glasgow Interest

Rare 19th-century Scottish photograph album containing 41 photographs with strong Clydesdale Banking Company / Glasgow banking interest.

The album appears to document senior bank staff, branch images, staff movements, retirements, marriages and obituary-style notes. Names and subjects identified through research include figures connected with the Clydesdale Banking Company, including George Readman / Redman, John Cameron, William Tod, Thomas Keay and others.

Of particular interest is the apparent connection to John Cameron, noted in relation to his appointment as one of the liquidators following the City of Glasgow Bank collapse of 1878. The collapse was one of the most significant banking disasters in Scottish and UK financial history.

Contents include:

Rare Victorian Scottish banking photograph album - 41 original albumen photos c.1870s-1880s with Clydesdale Bank interest. Every photo retains contemporary ink manuscript annotation on verso.

This album documents senior staff of the Clydesdale Banking Company in the period immediately after the City of Glasgow Bank collapse of October 1878.

Key sitters identified from verso inscriptions:

• GEORGE READMAN (1818-1894) - General Manager Clydesdale Bank 1852-1880, Managing Director 1886-1887. Verso: "George Readman: retired from the General-Managership of the Clydesdale Banking Co, 31 Dec 1880 - Resumed 3 Dec 1886 under title of Managing Director Retired 1 Feb 1888 -"

• JOHN CAMERON - Banker, Glasgow. One of four liquidators appointed for voluntary winding up of City of Glasgow Bank after 1878 collapse. Liquidators were William Anderson (Glasgow), George Auldjo Jamieson (Edinburgh), John Cameron (Glasgow) and James Haldane (Edinburgh).

• THOMAS KEAY - died 27 Sep 1888. Verso: "E. No 505 Thomas Keay - died 27 Sep 1888 -"

• William Tod and others. Full transcription of 41 versos available on request.

Photographers:

• T&R Annan & Sons, 153 Sauchiehall St Glasgow & Glenbank Lenzie

• G McKenzie, Willowbrae House Piershill Edinburgh & 5 Gilmour St Paisley, Established 1850

The Album:

Victorian album, crushed morocco leather, brass clasp and corners, all edges gilt, chromolithographed floral title page "ALBUM" with tissue guards. Approx 28 x 22cm.

Condition:

Used. Album boards with wear, scuffs and bumping commensurate with age. Clasp working. Pages with foxing / spotting throughout as shown. Photos generally good with some fading / silvering. No restoration, sold as found. Please see 12 photos which form part of description. Photos are of actual item.

Provenance: Private collection, Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland.

Perfect for collectors of Scottish banking history, Clydesdale Bank, City of Glasgow Bank 1878, Victorian photography, T&R Annan.