British Business In Colonial Era India, 1888 Photo
This is an interesting old photograph of a British business establishment in colonial India of 1888. The establishment is the famous “Letts Diary”. Founded by John Letss in London in 1796, in the business of printing, stationery, and bookbinding. In 1812 he had the distinction of creating the world’s first commercial diary.
By the 1850s they were selling their diaries in thousands in different patterns every year. Sales boomed like never before and since John Letts grew old the firm passed into the hands of his grandsons Thomas and Charles. Both taking the trade to greater heights. Because of its huge success, they ventured into printed interest tables, calendars, maps, registers, logbooks, medical and clerical diaries.
And one point in time it may have been natural for them to extend their business venture into colonial India which this photograph is proof of. The location could have been one of these three places Bangalore, Madras, or Calcutta although not entirely sure. The Letts diary is still in operation worldwide which I guess says a lot about their quality. Read more- The History of The Letts Diary.
The photograph shows two Indian men with a horse cart possibly a retailer and his attendant come to take delivery of goods.
Did you know- there were many British diarists in the colonial India era one of them was Lady Dorothy Fullerton wife of Rear-Admiral Eric Fullerton. Lady Fullerton’s first diary documents her voyage and stay in Kolkata in 1929.
From the collection- 1964 M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal Art Abstract (#16)., 2 Old Photographs – Eden Gardens & William Peel Statue Kolkatta., Old Postcard – Aerial View Parliament Building 1930., Vintage Print Worli Fort Bombay 1930s., Antique Photos of Shakuntala Railway 1918
