1850's William Wall Ambrotype Photograph from Stratford Upon Avon UK

William Wall 1797-1859: 1850's ID'd Pressed Brass Framed Ambrotype Half Plate Portrait Photo, from Stratford Upon Avon

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A beautiful and original period pencil signed handwritten and hand tinted (or hand coloured) 1850's sealed ambrotype glass photo portrait, clearly identified as "William Wall Esq, Stratford Upon Avon." This is in Warwickshire, West Midlands, England. It is a larger size half plate ambro, measuring 4.25 x 5 inches.

The ambrotype is also known as a "collodion positive" in the UK. It is an early Victorian photograph in which the photographic image was created by placing a glass negative against a dark background. It replaced the earlier 1840's daguerreotype, and was in favour in the 1850's. It was then superseded in popularity by the tintype and the carte de visite or CDV paper photo in the 1860's. It requires the glass image to be in a frame with a backing behind, much like an early miniature portrait, in fact that is what early photography is based upon.

Note: We found a William Wall as a prominent Victorian era druggist / grocer in Stratford-upon-Avon in the mid 19th century, born in the Georgian era, 1797. He had servants, and seems to have been an important figure in this famous illustrious town. He had also signed abolition or abolitionist papers against slavery.  Stratford-upon-Avon is a beautiful medieval market town in the West Midlands of England, and is the 16th-century birthplace of William Shakespeare.

From Public Genealogy Records:
-Draft assignment from Simon Wall of Kilsby, co. Northants., corn dealer, to William Wall of Stratford-upon-Avon, grocer, of two shares in the Amicable Assurance Society.

-From Richard Taylor of Mickleton, farmer, to William Wall of Stratford-upon-Avon, grocer, a house and garden in Mickleton, 20 December 1844. Enclosed: further charge, 10 May 1851

-1823 April 30 Meeting in Worcester, William Wall, Esq., in the chair, at which a petition to Parliament, praying for the abolition of Slavery in the British colonies, was agreed upon. One was also forwarded from Evesham at this time.

-Succession duty receipts in re the real estate in Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon and Shipston-on-Stour of William Wall (late of Stratford/Avon, druggist, died 1 July 1859). Legatees: Martha Leigh, wife of Zebulon of Edgbaston; Elizabeth Aldridge, wife of William, Notting Hill, Middlesex., grocer; Mary Bayliss, wife of James (Lucas), Stratford/Avon; Thomas Wall of Stratford/Avon, Alfred Wall and James Wall; all children of the testator.

There is much more info to be found. William Wall can be found the in 1840-50's England census, dying in 1859. He also had a son William Wall. This would line up perfectly with the 1850's age of this beautiful old ambrotype photo and his assumed age in the photograph. He wears a pure white cravat at his neck, top coat and looks straight at the camera. The background is hand tinted blue green, as well as his skin tone. It is very well executed by a skilled photographer / colour artist. It is framed in a mid 19th century pressed brass frame, with very pleasing green matte. It has a brass ring for wall hanging.

There is extensive Warwickshire Wall family in that area including Worcestershire, and much more genealogy info to be researched. It has a brass wall hanging ring and is in beautiful condition, sealed as it originally was in the 1850's. The most we can say is there is some slight dust, seen under the glass in this  170 year old unopened case.

Size: about 4.25 x 5 inches, 1/4 inch thick glass, half plate size
      Note: The original is sold, but you may still purchase large, detailed and intimate 300 dpi high resolution scans of front and back, sent immediately via email. Please check our site carefully, as many may be related to each other that we are unaware of. Click scan to place in your cart. Thank you, enjoy! ~debra (please also join me at Ancestorville Genealogy on facebook. contact info on top bar)