Holtermann Collection Digitisation Project

The Journeys End

Mon, 10 Mar 2014 12:26:38 +1100

At last, the final two wet plate glass negatives from the Holtermann Collection have been digitised. They are over a metre long (1.36m x 0.95m) and were made in 1875 from inside Holtermann's residence, known as "Holtermann's Tower" in St Leonards. The negatives display views of Sydney Harbour, Garden Island to Millers Point, from Lavender Bay.

These plates are the final and most challenging plates to be digitised from the World Heritage listed Holtermann Glass Plate Collection. It is comprised of around 3,500 wet glass plate negatives of varying sizes made by Holtermann's photographer's Charles Bayliss and Beaufoy Merlin over the period 1871-1876.

The digitisation process of this considerable collection began as an initiative of Imaging Services Manager, Scott Wajon in 2009. The Collection had been digitised previously as "copy negatives" Scott saw these and realised they had nothing like the detail that could be achieved with our current equipment. Thanks to Scott's perseverance and the successful fundraising coordinated through the Library’s Foundation, a dedicated team of talented people began digitising the whole Holtermann negative collection - starting from the smallest and ending here, with the digitisation of the largest historical wet plate negatives currently know to exist. The negatives have been digitised to reveal a spectacular level of detail and are available for viewing on the library's website.

Holtermann Glass Plate Digitisation

How Did We Do It?

It was a challenge to digitise such enormous negatives. They took 3 days to shoot and much longer for preparation. It required the co-operation of a large multi skilled team, a combination of some high end equipment and considerable ingenuity. The challenges of digitising these glass plates were many and varied, not least of all the potentially hazardous combination of size, age, unwieldiness and fragile emulsion.

Imaging Services Co-ordinator Bruce York and Senior Photographer Hamilton Churton took on the task of working out the technical details of how to digitise the glass plates to the required standards. After colluding with experts from various divisions in the Library, considerable preparation and research, a support structure was designed and built and a plan was made.

A small group that included Alan Davies the Library's curator of Photography and members of the conservation team wheeled the enormous wooden box into the Imaging studio. As the first plate was carefully removed from it's home, the nervous and excited team looked on. The plate was, much to everyone's relief successfully and deftly fitted snugly into it's custom built, rigid, vertical support. It was built this way because the sheer weight of the negative could have caused the glass to break had it been lain out horizontally. As with a standard negative, light was needed to bring the scene to life. Behind the negative a custom made light box with daylight balanced keno's was switched on illuminating the enormous negative and its incredibly detailed landscape of a very young Sydney Harbour.

The 50 megapixel Hasselblad camera then had to be attached to a remote controlled custom built dolly system, the tracks were measured and set up a specific distance from the illuminated negative so that the camera could roll across from one side of it to the other, and then be elevated on the dolly to do the same again. Because of the sheer size and detail, the negative needed to be shot in multiple parts and stitched together in Photoshop. One of the biggest challenges of this was the precision needed to get the camera lined up perfectly for each shot so the final image file would be the highest standard possible. This job fell to Senior Photographer, Hamilton Churton and Coordinator Bruce York who had spent many hours prior to shooting, testing and making calculations.

After all the camera attachments had been made, the overhead lights were switched off and all that could be seen was the glowing negative and the expression of concentration on the Hamilton's face bathed in light as he cautiously shot each segment, checking the results onscreen before moving on to the next shot. This process was painstakingly carried out for both negatives.

Hamilton took the resulting digital files and successfully processed and stitched them together. In the final images, the amount of detail visible amazed even the people working most closely with the negatives. Below is one of the negatives,Sydney Harbour from the Holtermann residence, with a detail.

You can find out more about this collection in Discover Collections.

A number of people need a special mention for making this final stage of the project a success:

Imaging Services Team
Conservation team
Fraser and Mark from Pod design for building the support structure and moving the negative
Lester and Morgan from Black Bishop Films from providing and controlling the dolly
Susan Hunt, from SLNSW Foundation, who have supported the project from it's inception

The Last Box

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:12:36 +1100

The last box of 18x22 inch large glass plate negatives has been shot. Here is a short timelapse of me finishing them off. I still have the incredible 1.6 metre negative to shoot, but that will be another story.

Holtermann from State Library of New South Wales on Vimeo.

I have spent the last year getting familiar with the Holtermann collection, and my predecessor Lauren even longer. I have lived with the plates and through them journeyed across Victoria and NSW looking at a world, most of which is gone, but which has been captured in exquisite detail. I have been continually astonished by how much information can be coaxed out of the larger negatives due to the almost grainless wet colloidal process. I started the project knowing virtually nothing about Holtermann or the American and Australasian Photographic company. After viewing the work of its photographers Beaufoy Merlin and Charles Bayliss I have finished with upmost respect and even awe for the work they achieved.

This is the last plate I photographed from Box 83. I have included the negative and the positive for comparison, please note the bubbling on the emulsion, where emulsion has come away at the edges, the original retouching work on Holtermann and his companion's eyes and the parts of the sky which have been painted in. The reason the negative is reversed is that it has been photographed emulsion side up.

Negative

Positive

It is called Holtermann shooting party camp in bush.

I approached Alan Davies and he did some research on the contents of the image, he noted the waratah flowers poking out of the guns. It was the zoom that allowed us to see writing on one of the buggy's. It says "Mackaness North Shore," according to Alan the buggy probably belonged to James Mackaness. Mackaness was a freemason like Holtermann and was on Holtermann's election committee when he stood unsuccessfully for the seat of St Leonard's in 1874.

Holtermann according to Shellard

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:38:05 +1100

Reminiscences of an old gold digger. The great rush to Hill End, Tambaroora, New South Wales. By Frank Shellard in The Queenslander 24 Jan 1914 p8

Frank Shellard wrote a fascinating first hand account of mining in Hill End, which included a none too flattering description of B.O. Holtermann. While the article clearly contains some errors of fact, it says much about Holtermann and the way he was perceived.

B.O. Holtermann in his carriage and pair outside the girls' section of the Hill End Public School

“…Holterman, the local manager of Beyers and Holterman's Gold Mining Company, Hil End, made a big pile, estimated to be £150,000, trading in mining scrip. His claim had three partners, Beyers, Holterman, and Kerr. They sold out, and it was floated into a limited liability company with Mr. Emmett, of Sydney, as legal manager, and Holterman as local manager. He was a natty little German with a wax-pointed moustache, and always dressed as if he had just come out of a band box, and strutting about, proud as a peacock. Publicity was his religion, and he always contrived to have his name before the public for something clever that he had done. When the cable telegraph was laid from Europe to Australia he managed to send the first telegram to Germany, when he had to pay well for the privilege. At one of his crushlngs he had a special retort made in Sydney to eclipse the size of Khroman's [Krohmann’s] famous cake [1]. He succeeded in getting a cake so large that a trolly had to be made for it to be dragged up to the Joint Stock Bank, where it lay on the floor a long time—safe enough, for no man could steal it. It looked well in the newspapers as "Holterman's Great Cake of Gold." At another time he had a very large slab of quartz, full of gold, hoisted up the shaft, and exhibited at his house on the hill, charging 1/ per head for each visitor, and the proceeds were handed over to the local hospital. While this so-called nugget was on show he had it photographed, with himself on guard, standing by it with his left hand resting on it, with a revolver in his right.[2] The photographer secured a large order for some thousands of copies for distribution all over the country. Holterman being the manager, he had the power of engaging the men to work at the mine, and any one who could play a musical brass instrument was sure to get a job. He soon had the making of a fine brass band. As he provided the uniforms and instruments, it was called Holterman's Band, and used to play at his house and about the town.[3] Having plenty of money he could buy almost anything, even brains, for he found a scallawag with plenty—a brokendown barrister, who was loafing about the public houses. Holterman secured his services, took him to Sydney, and made him his private secretary, using his abilities to his own advantage.[4] He did many charitable actions, but they were spoiled by his inordinate vanity, and the puffing they got in the newspapers. He built a castle at St. Leonard's, North Shore, Sydney Harbour. This castle had a high tower, and on the top of it he had "Holterman" painted in large letters. The tower is used by the shipping as a land mark to this day. In his castle he had a splendid photographic studio fitted up to date, and engaged a clever photographer to go all over the country taking views and puffing up his employer in the newspapers. But he got wet on one of his trips, took a chill and died, leaving a widow and children unprovided for. She was a very nice lady and some of her friends induced Holterman to pay her passage home in the mail boat.[5] Having splendid instruments he was enabled to produce some of the finest photographs in this country, so he presented all his stock to the late Queen Victoria, who sent him her autographic thanks, which he had framed and hung up at his castle. He went into many businesses. He bought the right of a new sewing machine and opened a shop for it in George-street, Sydney. He then had a new lozenge which he named "Holterman's Drops," and it was supposed to be a cure-all for all complaints. He invested in house property in Sydney, notably the Post Office Hotel, which had been lying idle for some time, as it was old-fashioned ; but Holterman renovated it in splendid style and put a friend in to manage it, and it soon became a popular resort for Hill End lucky diggers. Many other ventures he made pay through having plenty of money and brains to help him; but when he died he was comparatively a poor man, with about £600 a year, exclusive of the £300 a year for being an M.P. for St. Leonard's, North Shore. He was a prominent man about Sydney. When Lord Belmore, the Governor of New South Wales, went home he sold his equipages to a livery stable keeper in Sydney. Holterman bought one of the carriages and a pair of showy grey horses, with silver plated harness, and then he could be frequently seen taking a ride in Lord Belmore's carriage with his lordship's coat of arms on the panels, which he would not have taken off. At one time he took it up to Hill End, and his band went out to meet him, and escorted him through the town playing, "See, the Conquering Hero Comes." They stopped at every public house on the way, then Holterman gave the signal, which meant a drink for all hands, until they got to his house; then the crowd dispersed. He being a temperate man he did not leave his carriage all the journey through the town. He had some good points. He was good to his immediate friends, and they looked over his weakness. Beyers was a totally different man to his mate Holterman. The former was quiet and a generous friend to many, and without any ostentation. He and Holterman married two sisters. Beyers had a large family; Holterman had none.[6] The former lived at Hill End, and was returned M.P. for that place, but the latter resided mostly in Sydney….”

[1] At the Metropolitan Intercolonial Exhibition Sydney 1872, Krohmann’s mine from Hill End exhibited a cake of cast gold the size of a ’two gallon bucket’ [about 7½ litres], weighing 5620 oz (159kg)

[2] This sounds like confusion with the well-known 1872 image of Holtermann beside the nugget, resting his right hand on the specimen and his left hand on his hip.

[3] The contents of Holtermann’s St Leonards house at auction 27 June 1876 included a drum, 2 cornets, 3 saxhorns, a French horn and clarinet

[4] This is probably barrister George Thomas, who died at Holtermann’s residence June 1874

[5] Merlin died 27 Sept 1873. Mrs Merlin and 3 children returned to London via Patriach three weeks later.

[6] Holtermann had three sons and two daughters

Alan Davies

Holtermann on Holtermann

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:13:24 +1100

∫Holtermann Papers ZML MSS 968 item1, held by Mitchell Library

This is an interesting 18 page manuscript about Bernhardt Otto Holtermann written by Holtermann in the third person, full of spelling errors and grammatical mistakes and difficult to read. Holtermann misused the obsolete English long ‘s’, so that ‘success’ looks like ‘succes∫,' and always spelt ‘then‘ as ‘than’ and ‘trial’ as trail’. He liberally used capital letters, but rarely started a sentence with a capital and rarely ended them. The confusing long ‘s’ has been removed in this transcription, but the other errors have been left. From internal evidence, it seems to have been written in late 1875.

This is the transcription.

"BOH [Holtermann] was born in Hamburg, North Germany 29 April 1838 and was for five years employed in a mercantile house of well known Repute, as Holtermann & Köpke and of late years H.H. Holterman, in 1858 he made up his mind to see the world or rather far famed Gold land Australia, moreso as he had a brother in this colony for Several years and secondly he did not believe to be dressed in military cloth or lose three years of the best of his life as a Soldier, he made a start from Hamburg in a Steamboat to Liverpool on the 15 April [1858] without any English language, started for train to Liverpool, stayed at Liverpool in a Boarding House for ten days with many a little Narrative in this large City as an Mumory [memory] than was imbarked [embarked] as a Sterage [steerage] passenger in the ship “Salem” Capt Watt for Melbourne and started from Liverpool on the 29 April. on the Starting he was surprised as a sign of bad luck as he Terms it, by a large Piece of timber being thrown to on his foot completely Crushing his big toe but to wind up at night he was laid up with the beautifull Sensation of Sea Sickness and combined with being partly Heartbroken without a friend to care for him escept [except] an American Native, than Cabin Cook on Board who attended him like a father and brought him nice things to eat, untill he recovered from his Sickness some 14 days but more like 14 month to him, he than look as no one knows him and wanted something to do to assist the Cook when ever he could and received nothing but real kindness from the whole ship principally the Captain who was as nicer man as ever he meet.

Several dozen Incidents occurred on Board of which he narrated one or two to us, he for the first time in his life saw one day two men quite coldly Stand before one an other, one a Small Englishman and the other a very big Frichman [Frenchman] whom held fell out over something and was Satisfying themselves by punching one an others head & face for about half an hour when the Small man was the Successful one and than both Shoke [shook] hand as friends to his surprise on an other occasion he tried to oblige the Cook with bringing a Pudding to the Cabin in a very Rough Sea, when all at once he and pudding was rolling about the deck of the Ship to the Amusement of the others on Board, on an other occasion he heard some noise down the Hatchway, where his trunks with goods where he got up to look but soon was told to hold his tongue and a very handsome fist shown with the words, if you say anything you go overboard, to which Touring he did not approve and had a couple of days to tell the Captain by being called upon that he had not seen anything fearing some of the Crews determination, on an other day the Stewart [steward] brought a beautiful Ham to the Kitchen for dinner for the Cabin, the Cook a real good fellow, not being ready, hung this Ham up in the Gully [galley] for a few minutes, this Ham did not long hang long before the Sailors prepared to have it and gave me signs of quieting when one began talking to him an other taking it and a third planting it forit [forward], dinner came and Stewart waited for the Ham but after searching with forks in the Boiler the Ham was not there and words issued but was shown by marks the watery Prospect so Silence was my his plea untill a week after the Cook had to cook Portion of this Ham for the sailors when it was proved.

A very bad Disease broke out and they burried [buried] four untill He tried by my his medicine on a German ~~party~~ woman very weak and nearly exhausted and was afraid she had to follow the others, but thanks he safed her and Several others from Severe illness or death and many more mimos [memos] he has during his Passage, which he fully intends Publishing in a small book shortly.

Arriving at Melbourne, after being 101 days out he started for Sydney by Steamer City of Sydney, arrived at Sydney late in the Evening, went a Shore to trace his brother but was told that he had left for the diggings, when with a full heart on Board and made an other Search next day, but was told the Same Story in Bridge Str by a Country man, whom offered him to Stay until he found Employment, he knew no one and had no letters nor could speak much English, after several trails [trials] he engaged on Board of a Small boat as Stewart at 5 £ pr month, paid up his Landlord than in lower George Street now Nil Desperandum Hotel and went to the South Sea Lands & New Caladonian [New Caledonia] for 5 Month among the Blacks with the Ship Rebecca Capt Suther [Souter] arrived at Sydney, again tried many a Billet that was advertised as a Waiter in Photo Gallerie, than at North Shore as a Groom to mind a little Pony and occasionaly pull a Boat to Sydney , which place was just filled by some one ilse and many other trails until He engaged as honourable Waiter in a Public House than the Hamburg Hotel in King Street for ten Shilling pr week, but the Owner a Gentlemanly Master gave him 12/- instead, He stayed there for a few month, had some exsperiance with Gold Miners principally one very rich one from Adelong at them days, he did not like his billet and was going to Adelong or Fairfield [Drake NSW] but his late mate Mr. Beyers Stayed at the Hotel and he made up his mind to have a trail at the than worked out Tambaroora Goldfield or Bald Hill now Hill End, and he never left it for the first five years through not having much success but has many little Annecdotes & mumos [memos] to refer to as a digger and many other occupation that came to hand.

I[n] 1861 he started with Mr. Beyers prospecting Hawkins Hill and never interely left it to present day and Still believes in it with practical men as Leaders, he had many a narrow escape of being killed while Prospecting this Hill and had as many as twenty different Mates, Mr. Beyers leaving him three times the last time he wrote for him to New Zealand, Mr. Beyers was allways ready with labour or money for prospecting this now famous Hill, among many a hardship for years and no assistance from any one except Credit, which often made them look very dull but providence rewarded their Search pretty Handsomely in 1871.in 1866 Mr.Holtmn started through having a few Hundred Pounds Stg from a Surface Crushing, Hotel keeping at Hill End but keeping hold to his claim by Paying in and parting with some Interest 1869 he sold the Hotel and commenced Store keeping, butchering & backing at Chambers Creek, started & finished a Hotel but the Place turn out to be no good and lost all he had besides owed 150 £ Stg. with Balance of Goods after Building a Place at Root Hog he shifted there but neither succeeded in doing any good , he than started and build with his Brother a boat out of a backing through to bring People and horses across the River when up, he made in three month some thirty Pounds, At this time had several offers for his mining Interests, and had nearly closed with one for 200 £, but fortune smiled on him and he did not sell, but undertook to sink their lucky shaft on Speck to get paid his own & his brother wages at 2 £ 10 pr week if payable and nothing if Claim was no good they worked 8 hours shifts from Sunday evening 12 untill Saturday evening 12. he went Security for his & his brothers Share of Debt , he was many a time unable to work, but had to do it as his mates made him and his brother sign an Agreement to the foregoing effect.

Panorama of Central Hawkins Hill (showing Holtermann goldmine), Hill End

He could relate many an incident in his life so would form a good lesson for young people but we will leave that as he is writing a book containing an account of the many incidents both troubles & pleasure that he has undergone still he related some very nice little Annecdotes as to the friendship he received from many a family as we are informed he was never backward in assisting or keeping in Sickness or little odds and Ends that were wanted such as Blacksmithing, Backing [baking] Sundays dinners mending Clocks and any other matter that came to hand but principally the diseased whom he gave medicine & frequently safed life ~~without~~ this he done out of pleasure & comfort to his own feelings for a prosperous future.

B.O.Holtermann (2nd from left), Richard Ormsby Kerr (centre) and Beyers (2nd from right), with reef gold from Star of Hope mine

He made by his mining a deal of money and at once decided to chance one half for the Benefit of the Country and himself in some future time, he started Prospecting a large Field and spent some 8,000 £ but does not know any more now than he did when he started except that the shaft makes about 5000 Gallons of water every hour, but he has Machinery to Pump three times the amount quantity if needed all the original party left but one man and this Claim has been idle the last 18 month. He also started by the idea of a friend, four years ago (Mr Beaufoy Merlin) to take Views and Photographs of the different Parts of this colony and at the same time to collect all information possible in reference of Resources & Population of the different Districts to inable him at some future day to make a Grand show in the European Countries, but Since Mr Merlin died suddenly, he engaged Mr Charles Bayliss of Melbourne, formerly with Mr Merlin and we are proud to state that he has turned out to be as good a Photographer as the following discription will Show. Mr Holtermann has now on hand, some 1000 Nagatives of different Views in the Colony such as Sydney, Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo, Hill End etc etc and in our Sister Colony Victoria, Melbourne, Ballarat, Bendigo or Sandhurst, Pleasant Creek, Castlemaine etc etc and for the finishing Touch he has taken with Mr Bayliss a splendid Panoramic View of the whole of our City & Suburbs, Harbour and North Shore on direct Nagatives of 18x22 inch forming a length of 33 feet well joined and embracing little more than half a circle, showing distinctly All the Principal Buildings of Sydney & Suburbs for a distance of 4 Miles and more accurately than can be seen with the naked eye, for instance Sign boards ~~four~~ 3 miles off can be read easily on the Photograph, when the House can barely be seen with the naked Eye. this was a piece of work of no small amount of difficulty and Expense, but from the Elevation from where it was taken Mr H [‘s] Tower is of such a commanding position, that every object in the City and surroundings can easily be seen.

Part of a Panorama of Ballarat taken from the Town Hall clocktower with detail from the last section of buildings on the right

This Picture is supposed to be the longest Photo Panorama ever taken in the world. Mr H. has also two smaller Panoramas of same Sights 5 feet and 12 feet long and very handsome.With an Instrument of Superior Class, the Scenery was achieved that has surprised all Artists here and will surprise the whole world principally every Photographer, was to get the largest direct negatives ever taken in the world, which after many attempts for Camera, baths and Collodionising the large Plate Glass weighing some 50lb. was nearly given up in dispair, still on the first trails getting a very good edea [idea] of what could be done and Mr B. O.H. with his Artist Mr Charles Bayliss after many a trail to manipulate a plate of such unusual size and it must be understood, that it was taken by the wet plate process. The greatest difficulty to be contended with was the Collodionizing both in regards to make the Colodion flow evenly over the large glass Plates, and to run it off before any Portion of it dried. this was all achieved on the top of Mr H. [‘s] Tower 10x12 feet and about 90 feet high from where the Plates had to be carried down wet, for to be varnished by the fire, after a few trails this was accomplished and two Nagatives 5 Feet by 3 feet 2 inch representing a View of Sydney Harbour & Suburbs and two others of 4 feet 6 inch by 3 feet 2 inch of Suburbs & Harbour, the whole representing the principal Parts of the City & Harbour these large Photographs are really work of Art in clearness good definition & Sharpness and free from Stains, will compare favourably with a good Card De Visite negative. These are three times larger than any Direct Nagative in the world. Mr H. intends to forward some Copies to Philadelphia for Exhibition and Expects to get the first prise in Photographic for size, and to incourage Emigration to these Colonies we think the Government should support the undertaking as it has allready cost some 4000£ Strl and nothing to our View would do more for Emigration than the real Photo of our Cities & Towns & Country Scenery. Seeing is far superior to lecturing and it would incourage more independent men to come out here. It seems Mr. H after being fortunate did not leave this Colony like many others, but has contributed to several Institutions and Build a most manificent House on one of the Prettiest Spots in this Colony on St Leonards near Sydney it cost him some 12,000 £ with the Land nearly 8 Acre, his Sight can be not be interfeared with by any Party even ~~out~~ of his Varandah or Ground floor, all his Rooms ar very laufty 14 &15 feet high in the Main building the House Contains some 20 Rooms and the Kitchen, Laundry, Stables etc, it overlooks the whole Harbour, St Leonards, city of Sydney, Botany and all Surrounding Subburbs for some 30 miles Distance even the Ocean in three places, it is impossible to discribe the view with a pen in a few Columns it being so extensive and beautifull, it is by all who have seen the Sights acknowledged to be the finest in the world etc I[n] March next we are inform Mr.H is going to take a trip through the Principal Places of Europe and takes with him as an Introduction several of his Photographs of these Colonies which will do the Colony a deal of good by giving far Distant places a sight of our beautiful Harbour etc”

After a short space, there follows a précis of events in his life which it seems Holtermann intended to expand upon, but never did so.

“Cautioned public in Mining Speculation 20 Novbr 71. Herald

Effigy was burned for above beginning of Decbr by Diggers & Leaders.

Was Lectunuring [electioneering] for Parliament Service against very able man and beaten by only a few votes”

Transcribed By Alan Davies

[1] Rebecca departed Sydney 12 Sept 1858, returned 17 Jan 1859

Moving into the Large Glass Plate Negatives

Tue, 03 May 2011 10:24:57 +1100

The time has come when with great anticipation I am starting to photograph the larger wet-collodion Glass plate negatives. Starting at approximately 16 x 16 inches they will go all the way up to the largest plate which is 1.5 metres on the long side. I have just completed the first box and as I am creating files at approximately 15000 x 15000 pixels from almost grainless negatives, incredible depth and detail is being uncovered. I have created this zoomify of the first negative I photographed to share with you.

This is part of a panorama of Ballarat in Victoria, taken from the Town Hall Clocktower looking down and across the town. As you can see the image captures the intersection and stretches out into the distance. Minute details such as signs on buildings can be read all the way into the back of the image.

Holtermann's 'Great Remedy'

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:29:31 +1100

A colleague recently catalogued an original ‘Holtermann’s Life Preserving Drops’ poster at the Library and I thought some additional information might be of interest.

Original held at Mitchell Posters, Posters/Medicine/8

There is no doubt that Bernhardt Otto Holtermann understood the importance and value of maintaining his association with the world’s largest specimen of reef gold. Unable to purchase the monster quartz and gold specimen when it was extracted from the Star of Hope mine in Tambaroora in 1872, he commissioned the American and Australasian Photographic Company to produce a photographic montage of him standing beside it. Photographers Beaufoy Merlin and Charles Bayliss seem to have carried out this assignment on more than one occasion, as Holtermann wears different clothing in the several known examples of the image.

Obviously pleased with the result, Holtermann used the montage on his business card and on the label to a patent medicine bearing his name. As an advertising ploy, the image of Holtermann resting his hand on the world’s largest hunk of gold can only have been interpreted as a symbol of success and a guarantee of the worth of his product.

Not surprisingly, Holtermann was issued with a Certificate of Trade Mark on 20th January 1876 for ‘The figure of a Man with his Hat and Coat removed standing beside a Monument of Quartz and Gold and having a hand resting thereon, the word “B O Holtermanns” being above the figure and “Life Drops” below the figure’.

When Holtermann eventually left Hill End, he built a mansion at St Leonards and spent some of his wealth promoting new fangled inventions and his patent medicine. In 1875, for instance, he became an early advocate of washing powder, a product that would take another seven or eight decades to become popular.

A REVOLUTION IN THE WASH TUB. B.O. HOLTERMANN begs to announce to the public that he has made arrangements for the introduction of the greatest labour-saving invention of modern days, in " LAVERS' SERVANTS' FRIEND," a fluid preparation for all washing and cleansing purposes; entirely supercedes soap, saves 50 per cent of ordinary labour and costs, and effects marvellous results. Orders sent to 26, Bridge-street, Sydney; or received by Mr. J. V. LAVERS, will meet with prompt attention. Read the many high-class testimonials to the efficacy of THE SERVANTS’ FRIEND.[1]

A little later, he promoted the benefits of pure water from Mr Lavers’ patent filters.

PURE WATER PURE WATER. Persons who value that great desideratum, pure and wholesome water, are invited to inspect "Lavers' Patent Filters, now on view at the office of the undersigned.B. O. HOLTERMANN and CO., 26, Bridge-street.[2]

Neither invention seems to have been heavily promoted, but Holtermann’s use of newspaper advertising increased dramatically in November 1875, when he began to market his Life Preserving Drops on a daily basis in the Sydney Morning Herald and later in the Brisbane Courier and Maitland Mercury. His first advertisement stated,

THE GREAT REMEDY for Toothache, Neuralgia, Asthma, &c, &c, &c. B. O. HOLTERMANN’S Life Preserving Drops. Try HOLTERMANN'S Life Preserving Drops for children teething, wasting away, &c. HOLTERMANN'S LIFE DROPS are an immediate remedy for cramps in the stomach, &c. , AS A RESTORATIVE from the exhaustion, incident, to residence in a hot climate, or violent exercise, HOLTERMANN'S LIFE DROPS are unsurpassed. HOLTERMANN'S DROPS are SAFE, SIMPLER and EFFECTIVE. All may use them. Testimonials and instructions accompany each bottle. Retail, everywhere. Wholesale, B. O. HOLTERMANN and CO. 26, Bridge-street.[3]

A few days later, it seems Holtermann had worked out what ‘&c, &c, &c’ , might be and he added a few more ailments to the list of problems his medicine would cure.

A WONDERFUL remedy for TOOTHACHE is HOLTERMANN’S Life Drops (Registered). HOLTERMANN'S Life Drops surpass any other remedy for nervous HEADACHE. ANXIOUS Mothers, try HOLTERMANN'S Life Drops for your children. Quite safe. SUFFERERS from DYSENTERY, suffer no longer try HOLTERMANN'S Drops and be relieved. CRAMPS in the Stomach are dispelled immediately by HOLTERMANN'S Life Drops. As a Preventive to SEASICKNESS the Life Drops are unrivalled. Retail, all chemists. Wholesale, B. O. HOLTERMANN CO., 26, Bridge-street, Sydney.[4]

Nevertheless, Holtermann’s advertising was no more exaggerated than that of his competitors. In 1875, the columns of the Sydney Morning Herald carried grandiose claims for a plethora of patent medicines, including Dr Lera’s Phosphate of Iron to cure Anemia and Chlorosis; Grimault’s syrup of Hyposulphite of Lime for ‘diseases of the chest hitherto incurable’; Harvey’s ointment for Sore Breasts, Burns, Scalds, Carbuncles, Whitlows and Sore Legs; Freeman’s Chlorodyne (‘one of the greatest discoveries of the present century’) as a Sedative, Anti-spasmotic, Astringent and Disphoretic; J. S. Abraham’s Dandelion Pills, which cured ‘headache and giddiness arising from costive habit, debilitated stomach or torpid liver’ and Professor Thompson’s Eye Water for ‘any eye disease whatsoever’. If that assortment of home remedies didn’t work, patients could always visit 120 Sussex Street , where The Acid Treatment cured Asthma, colds, rheumatism, spinal complaints and ‘all acute and chronic disease’.

Holtermann established an import business at 42 Pitt Street Sydney and advertised everything from Gibson’s Patent Refrigerating Paint (to keep the house cool) to the new Davis Vertical Feed Sewing machine and 2hp. American horizontal steam-engines. Smaller items included chocolates, cigars, Rhine wine and even caviar. He continued to advertise his Life Drops from 1876 to 1885.

Interestingly Holtermann’s papers [MLMSS 4579] at the State Library of New South Wales includes correspondence regarding patents for medicines and notes [in German] regarding phamaceutical supplies. Also included [MLMSS 4579/2x] is a copy of Holtermann’s certificate of Trade Mark dated 20 January 1876.

It appears the original recipe came from a German doctor and one extensive handwritten recipe in Holtermann’s papers seems to indicate that the main ingredient of Holtermann’s Life Drops was ‘tinct valerian’. Valerian, prepared from the root of the plant Valeriana officinalis, is a pungent yellow green oil (with an odour similar to a very well-matured cheese), which has been used historically as a sedative, anticonvulsant, migraine treatment and pain reliever.

In 1882, Holtermann was elected member for St Leonards, but it seems his well-known patent medicine provided a source of amusement for his parliamentary colleagues, as this exchange, during an amendment debate on the Medical Bill, shows.

Mr. O'CONNOR said there could he no serious objection to the amendment, but he thought the House would admit that the committee would not be complete unless it included Dr. Holtermann. (Laughter.)

Mr.CAMERON thought the commitee should have power to send for persons, papers, and life drops. (Laughter.)[5]

Holtermann’s Life Preserving Drops may have been popular, but their efficacy was another matter entirely. In the end, Holtermann died on his 47^th birthday in 1885, after 18 months’ illness. His doctor recorded the causes of death as ‘cancer of the stomach,cirrhosis of the liver and dropsy’.

By Alan Davies

[1] SMH 20 Nov 1875 p8

[2] SMH 11 Dec 1875 p3

[3] SMH 24 Nov 1875 p7

[4] SMH 27 Nov 1875 p10

[5] SMH 14 June 1884 p7

Moving Day!

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:45:34 +1100

I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to pick up the Holtermann digitisation project where Lauren left off.

The digitisation of the Holtermann collection is now taking place on the brand new light table which was so carefully researched and designed by Lauren and the imaging team.

I am testing it out and have so far found it to be a great improvement. Not least because of the solid construction of the new column and wall mount giving much needed stability and reducing any vibrations when photographing the negatives. In addition to this, the new fans which were one of the last parts to be installed keep the negatives from overheating as they sit on the perspex.

I am currently finishing off the last 14 or so boxes of 8x12 inch (254x305mm) glass plate negatives and thanks to the new set up I will be able to move smoothly onto the next larger sizes in the collection which range from 5x18 inch (381x457mm) up to 18x22 inch (457x559mm) negatives. I am finding them to be a rich and wonderful historical documentation of Sydney and Victorian towns and landscapes. I am looking forward to maintaining the high standards set by Lauren and the team to digitally extract the beauty and detail in this wonderful collection of Holtermann wet-collodion glass plate negatives. The curator Alan Davies and myself will continue to keep you informed on the progress of the Holtermann project as we move into the larger glass plate negatives via this blog and we look forward to your comments and questions.

Merlin's Last Photographs

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 16:02:58 +1100

During the early part of 1873, Beaufoy Merlin was occupied photographing west of the Blue Mountains for Holtermann’s proposed Gallery of Colonial Views and Products. He returned to Sydney for the latter half of the year and by 2 August 1873, the Sydney Morning Herald noted that

Mr Beaufoy Merlin has taken a considerable number of photographic views of Sydney for the first section of " Holtermann's Intercolonial Exposition."

Unlike the earlier gold town images, Merlin’s photographs of Sydney were taken on larger format negatives, each measuring a massive 10x12 inches (25x30cm). Three years earlier, Merlin had recorded "the Picturesque Nooks and Corners of Sydney Cove” using a 6x8 inch (15x20cm) camera, but the newer 10x12 inch equipment from Holtermann offered much greater quality. These larger negatives are now being scanned and have revealed astonishing detail.

French warship 'Atalante', Fitzroy Dock, Sydney, 1873, Box 56 No 229 / a2824973

Detail from French warship 'Atalante', Fitzroy Dock, Sydney, 1873, close up of sailors

This photograph of the French warship Atalante in Fitzroy Dock on Cockatoo Island, with Balmain in the background, was taken in August 1873. Built in 1865, the iron clad Atalante had a protruding brass bow for ramming lesser vessels. It had taken part in the Franco Prussian War in 1870 and at the time of this photograph was the flagship of the Pacific Squadron, under the command of Rear Admiral Baron Roussin.

Beaufoy Merlin was particularly pleased with his photographs of the Atalante and wrote about them in the Town and Country Journal.

French warship 'Atalante' at Fitzroy Dock, Sydney, 1873, Original at SPF/ 145 / a089145

... One of the solar pictures which I took on the occasion of my last visit to the Atalante, of which an engraving accompanies the present pen-and-ink sketch, is taken from the rocks to the north-west, and shows her "ram," with its massive projecting extremity of solid brass, her swelling sides, portholes, section of the dock, and men at work. The steps to the bottom of the basin as well as [its depth], are fairly indicated. Probably there is no one more difficult to please in procuring a picture of this kind than the landscape photographer himself. I may therefore be permitted to say in behalf of the one referred to, that it gave me satisfaction.^[1]

Sadly, these images of Atalante were among the last photographs taken by Merlin. He contracted pneumonia and died, age 43, in September 1873.

^[1]`The French ironclad, Atalante / by Beaufoy Merlin, (Photographer to Holtermann's Exhibition.)' in the Town and Country Journal, 23 Aug 1873 (p.241)

Alan Davies

Prototype light table in action

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:27:36 +1100

As we await the arrival of our custom built light table, the digitisation of the 10x12 inch [254x305mm] Holtermann glass plate negatives is continuing on our prototype light table.

The prototype table (see left) consists of upward facing, folded fluorescent tubes inside an enclosed white area with a single diffusing layer about 950mm above. The brightness and uniformity of light delivered is near perfect, with any small shifts eliminated using a scene calibration.

The negatives are being photographed, emulsion side up, in two halves to obtain the desired resolution (at the moment approximately 12,000 pixels long). The capture device is a 50 megapixel, large format digital camera using a 120mm lens.

The two halves are then stitched together in PhotoShop to obtain a single high resolution digital master file.

The custom light table in construction will use the same fluorescent tubes for lighting, but it will be big enough to accommodate the larger glass plates and have a dedicated ventilation system to prevent heat build-up. We have also ordered a new motorised copy column that will be wall mounted and used with the light table.

"An immense photographic directory of all Australia"

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:59:53 +1100

One of our readers recently made mention of using Trove to find information about his ancestor. Trove gives access to the National Library of Australia’s newspaper digitisation project (1803-1954), which has enabled researchers to rapidly find information previously difficult to locate.

An important newspaper reference to the American and Australasian Photographic Company in the Sydney Morning Herald had eluded my reading of the microfilm in the 1980s, but now, when read together with the known reference of 21 September 1870, quoted in a previous blog (Holtermann and the A&A Photographic Company), it provides the reason for the company’s activities, their method of operation and their rate of photography.

The new reference, quoted in full, is from the Sydney Morning Herald 5 Sept 1870 p8. It was written by Beaufoy Merlin to inform the residents of Sydney of the company’s recent arrival and to explain their plans.

“The glorious sun stays in his course and plays the alchymist."-SHAKESPEARE'S " KING JOHN."

THE AMERICAN AND AUSTRALASIAN PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANY

have now commenced to Photograph every House, Shop, Store, Public Building, and Private Residence in Sydney. Offices -11, Barrack-street, Sydney, and 73, Little Collins-street, Melbourne.

As the mere announcement of a scheme so gigantic as PHOTOGRAPHING SEPARATELY every HOUSE and BUILDING in Sydney, and the other towns in the colony, may be received with some degree of doubt; it may be necessary to explain to the public-First, the object the Company have in view in this undertaking; second, what they have already done; third, what they further purpose doing.,

First.-The proprietors of this enterprise believe that in these colonies Photography has not had that scope which might be expected from an art so important, and yet so universal in its application to the requirements of taste and industry. Hitherto it has been devoted almost entirely to portraiture, and but very little attention has been given to its true artistic character, as in the case of Landscape Illustration ; or its commercial value as a means of public information. To attain these two very desirable results, the undertaking was projected some twelve months ago, and from the success which has attended their efforts in this direction - more particularly in the sister colony of Victoria - the Company have every confidence that the public of New South Wales will in like manner appreciate the enterprise. Generally the attempts that have been made in outdoor Photography have been - with a few solitary exceptions - of a very primitive character. The whole arrangement was so cumbersome that it is not to be wondered at that the projectors of a scheme so vast as that now propounded, and so much opposed to past experience, should be met at the threshold of their undertaking with warning of certain failure. Times, however, are continually altering. "The old order changeth and giveth place to the new," and what is looked upon as impossible to-day may become an established fact to-morrow. The system adopted by the Company is so entirely novel, that by means of the best instruments, the best operators, and certain improvements in lenses and cameras, each operator can take over a hundred views daily. Photographers as a rule, consider ten or twelve a pretty fair average for a day. The economy of time being thus the great secret of success, it is obvious that under the ordinary system it would be quite impossible to carry out the scheme.

Second. - The A. and A. P. Co. have already taken photographs of almost every building in Melbourne, as well us in every town of any importance in Victoria. The negatives (many thousands) are deposited in the Company's office in Melbourne, to which place, by forwarding the number, copies can be dispatched to any address at an hour's notice. The south-eastern townships of this colony have already been taken, while others are in course of completion, each town averaging about 300 separate views.

A&APC photographic cart and Mitchell's London Hotel, Railway Place, Port Melbourne / Box 32 No 1 / a2824602

Third. - The Company, in commencing operations in Sydney, will advertise in the daily journals the particular streets they intend working that day. As every house or shop will be taken separately, parties will have an opportunity of setting off their places to the best advantage. The main object the company have in view is simply the collection of a series of trustworthy views which will be of public interest and utility. For this purpose, arrangements are being made to open an exhibition where card views of every house in the colonies will be arranged panoramically, thus forming

AN IMMENSE PHOTOGRAPHIC DIRECTORY OF ALL AUSTRALIA.

BEAUFOY MERLIN,

Manager for New South Wales.

AMERICAN and Australasian Photographic Company.

Several of the Company's vans having arrived overland from Melbourne, business will commence This Day.

AMERICAN and Australasian Photographic Company

Every house in Crown-st. will be taken This Day.

AMERICAN and Australasian Photographic Company.

Every house in Riley-street will be taken To-Day.

AMERICAN and Australasian Photographic Company.

Every house in Bourke-st. will be taken This Day.

AMERICAN and AUSTRALASIAN PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANY.-

Intercolonial Exhibition. Will be published on the 10th September, price one shilling

each, twenty instantaneous views of the Exhibition. These pictures being taken in the FRACTIONAL PART OF A SECOND, show not only the mere building, but the life and bustle arising from the thousands assembled outside.

From this it can be seen that they could take ‘over 100’^[1] photographs per day and averaged 300 views per town; they intended to make ‘an immense photographic directory of all Australia’ and their negatives were kept in Melbourne; they had more than one mobile photographic van (probably three, judging by their proposed first day’s work in Sydney) and were able to take instantaneous photographs.

Studio and staff of American & Australasian Photographic Company, Hill End / Box 9 No 18850 / a2822738

Despite the ambitions of Merlin, it seems the American and Australasian Photographic Company was soon overextended. A&A vans were operating as far afield as Brisbane and Tamworth. Merlin resigned as manager for NSW and sold the Sydney studio to Alexander Carlisle in February 1872. He moved to Hill End with Charles Bayliss, advertising there under the company name in April 1872.

^[1] Two weeks later, an advertisement from A&A in Sydney Morning Herald 21 Sept 1870 said each of the Company’s operators could take 70-100 views per day.

Alan Davies