Of the 30 stereos attributable to the early press photographer James Edward Ellam (1857-1920) and featured in this blogpost-a-day series, today’s posed the greatest challenge in identifying its subject.
As has been the pattern in recent posts, there is no identifying credit or title in James’s distinctive handwriting.
All we really have to go on to suggest its provenance is the circumstantial evidence of its presence in the cache of 30.
This stereo, featuring a floral wreath in the shape of a crown and placed on a multi-sided table, needed closer inspection of the label to confirm what it was.
The most readable text in capitals features the words “King Charles.”
But it took a high-quality magnifying glass to reveal the rest.
This reads: “Dedicated To The Immortal Memory of His Most Sacred Majesty.”
The word “Executed” followed by a barely legible date and place points to this being a floral tribute to the late King Charles I (1625-1649).
He was beheaded in a public execution on 30th January 1649 outside the Banqueting House in London’s Whitehall following his trial in the House of Commons for treason.
Each year, the anniversary of his execution is marked with floral tributes being laid at the scene of his death by organisations that are sympathetic to him.
In the context of early press photography around 1900, this stereo offered both a 3D view and a print taken from it that could be offered to newspapers as an effective commemorative image.
This view also offers a classic example of how early press photographers like James Edward Ellam, who used stereoscopic cameras, constructed shots with 3D at the forefront of their minds.
The resulting image makes particular use of the label in the immediate foreground, the flower heads in the middle distance, and embraces the depth of field offered by the multi-sided table.
Tomorrow: “His Majesty.”
Pressphotoman 
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