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The Tichborne Claimant Trial Album: cartes-de-visite by various photographers, 1860s-1870s


183 Portraits in set

The Tichborne Trials were the most controversial court cases of the Victorian age, and two of the longest in English legal history, captivating popular imagination from the Claimant’s arrival in England in 1866 until the case’s end more than eight years later. They involved an aristocratic family, the Tichbornes, and a poor Australian immigrant who claimed to be one of them in a battle over the Tichborne title and estate. This legal event left a legacy that is also political and cultural. The trials led to English legal reform and changes in the law. They revealed the divisions of power inherent in English society, splitting public opinion as the establishment mainly stood against the Claimant, who was also called Tomas Castro or Arthur Orton, while the working-classes mainly supported him. Press commentary was vociferous throughout and the public revelled in the daily reports of the case. Collectible cartes-de-visite of the main protagonists and other ephemera contributed to the sense of spectacle.

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Roger Charles Doughty-Tichborne, by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company, after  Thomas Helsby - NPG Ax28421

Roger Charles Doughty-Tichborne

by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company, after Thomas Helsby
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1873 (1854)
NPG Ax28421

Florence Nightingale, by William Edward Kilburn - NPG Ax28403

Florence Nightingale

by William Edward Kilburn
albumen carte-de-visite, (circa 1856)
NPG Ax28403

Charles Dickens, by Herbert Watkins - NPG Ax28569

Charles Dickens

by Herbert Watkins
albumen carte-de-visite, (29 April 1858)
NPG Ax28569

John Newman, by Henry Joseph Whitlock - NPG Ax28412

John Newman

by Henry Joseph Whitlock
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax28412

George Cruikshank, by Elliott & Fry - NPG Ax28570

George Cruikshank

by Elliott & Fry
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax28570

Louis Adolphe Thiers, by Maison Lefevre Frères, after  Charles Reutlinger - NPG Ax28405

Louis Adolphe Thiers

by Maison Lefevre Frères, after Charles Reutlinger
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s-1870s
NPG Ax28405

Nasser al-Din, Shah of Persia, by Makzamoff, after  Unknown artist - NPG Ax28414

Nasser al-Din, Shah of Persia

by Makzamoff, after Unknown artist
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s-1870s
NPG Ax28414

Frederick Bowker, by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company - NPG Ax28427

Frederick Bowker

by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s-1870s
NPG Ax28427

William Ballantine, by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company - NPG Ax28430

William Ballantine

by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s-1870s
NPG Ax28430

Henri d'Artois, Count of Chambord, by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company - NPG Ax28440

Henri d'Artois, Count of Chambord

by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s-1870s
NPG Ax28440

Unknown man, formerly known as Samuel Anderson Emery, by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company - NPG Ax28517

Unknown man, formerly known as Samuel Anderson Emery

by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s-1870s
NPG Ax28517

Joseph Gungl, by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company - NPG Ax28527

Joseph Gungl

by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s-1870s
NPG Ax28527

Samuel Phelps, by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company - NPG Ax28542

Samuel Phelps

by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax28542

Prince Otto Edward Leopold von Bismarck-Schonhausen, by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company - NPG Ax28553

Prince Otto Edward Leopold von Bismarck-Schonhausen

by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax28553

David Livingstone, by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company - NPG Ax28415

David Livingstone

by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
On display in Room 23 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG Ax28415

Harriette Felicité (née Seymour), Lady Doughty-Tichborne, by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company - NPG Ax28426

Harriette Felicité (née Seymour), Lady Doughty-Tichborne

by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1873 (1860s)
NPG Ax28426

Charles Kingsley, by John Watkins - NPG Ax28407

Charles Kingsley

by John Watkins
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax28407

Charles Kingsley, by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company - NPG Ax28563

Charles Kingsley

by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax28563

George Cruikshank, by Elliott & Fry - NPG Ax28413

George Cruikshank

by Elliott & Fry
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax28413

'The Claimant of the Tichborne Baronetcy' (Arthur Orton), by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company, after  Unknown artist - NPG Ax28420

'The Claimant of the Tichborne Baronetcy' (Arthur Orton)

by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company, after Unknown artist
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1871-1874 (mid 1860s)
NPG Ax28420