Rare 19th Century Album Of 54 Original Photos (marine) Including 4 Sailboats By Alfred John West

Sailing ships, harbors, views and lochs of Scotland circa 1880-90, as contained in this handsome old leather-bound (but formerly cloth-covered) album, with gilt edges, and bearing the label of an Irish seller: J.D. Spence, Dublin.
This album contains 54 original late 19th-century silver albumen prints, including:
42 photos in 29/29.5 x 19/19.5 cm. format; 11 in 20/21 x 13.5/14 cm. format. ; 1 in 9.5 x 14 cm format
The first 4 are rare photos of large racing yachts ("May", and "Rex", according to pencil annotations), by Alfred John West, ( 1857 - 1937 ), each bearing the dry stamp: "West & Son, Copyright, Southsea & Gosport", who was a pioneer of boat photography, long before Beken of Cowes, going so far as to invent a system enabling him to balance and secure his photographic equipment on his boat....
One of his most famous shots is of the sailing ship Mohawk, racing at Southampton, for which he won a gold medal in 1884...
The other photos illustrate a voyage through the "fjords" and lochs of western Scotland, the Hebrides and the Highlands, with numerous views of harbors, sites and ships, including the famous S.S. IONA calling at Ardrishaig....
Good condition overall, with some foxing. Other photos on mail request.
Album dimensions: 43.5 cm x 34 cm; thickness 6 cm
Weight 5 kg, very careful shipping extra.