Although unusual, carte de visites featuring a celebrity could also include adverts on the reverse. This example featuring William Gladstone was produced by Cummings’ Patents Ltd at 122 George Street, Edinburgh. The Right Honourable William Gladstone was Prime Minister over four non-consecutive terms between 1868 and 1894 and was a household name. The CDV can be dated between 1890 and 1894 based on the advert.
Only half of the back has been sold as advertising space – perhaps early days for Cumming’s Patents – to Inman’s Drug Stores, at 46 Leith Street, 8 Shandwick Place, and 103 Kirkgate, Edinburgh.
Inman’s Drug Stores first appears in the Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory in 1885:
Inman & Co., medicine stores, 46 Leith street
An identical listing appears in 1886. In 1887 the listing is accompanied by an advertisement:
INMAN, W., & CO. LIMITED, medicine stores, 46 Leith street.
In 1888, the listing and advert adds a new premises 8 Shandwick Place:
INMAN, W., & CO. LIMITED, medicine stores, 46 Leith street and 8 Shandwick place.
The listing is slightly updated in 1889, and the advertising directory suggests that a loose ‘bill’ (flyer) for Inman’s may have been included that year:
INMAN, W., & CO. LIMITED, The London Drug Stores, 46 Leith street and 8 Shandwick place.
The third premises at 103 Kirkgate appears in 1890:
INMAN, W., & CO. LIMITED, The London Drug Stores, 46 Leith street, 8 Shandwick place, and 103 Kirkgate, Leith; Telegraph, ‘Drugs;’ Telephone, 332
The same listing appears in 1891, 1892, 1893, and 1894. A fourth premises at South Clerk Street does not appear until 1895:
INMAN, W., & CO. LIMITED, The London Drug Stores, 8 Shandwick place, 46 Leith street, 1 S. Clerk street, and 103 Kirkgate, Leith; Telegraph, ‘Drugs;’ Telephone, 332
Since the CDV lists only three premises for Inman’s Drug Stores, we can date the CDV between 1890 and 1894.
Leave a Reply