GP Abraham - Victorian photographer

[robert.goodall]

We have three large photos - Grasmere, Langdales and, of course, Stybarrow Crag (but with lady in boat) mounted with GP Abraham FRPS stamped on the mount. I understand he had a Studio in Lake Road and I thought there was still an outlet in Keswick.
I was interested to know whether our pictures have any value. I've not seen many others around (apart from Stybarrow Crag).
Anybody able to help, please?

[Guest]

The Cafe in George fisher's shop has Abrahams cafe on the top floor, this is named after GP Abraham. You could try contacting Fishers to see if they can help you.

There address is Borrowdale Road but it's also on Lake Road

George Fisher Ltd. 2 Borrowdale Road. Keswick. Cumbria CA12 5DA
Tel: 017687 - 72178 Email: <!-- e --><a href="mailto:customerservice@georgefisher.co.uk">mailto:customerservice@georgefisher.co.uk</a><!-- e -->

[Guest]

The Abraham brothers, Ashley and George, were mountaineers and photographers. Ther father, I think, was GP Abraham. The brothers had a shop in Lake Road which was subsequently bought by the Fisher brothers, also mountaineers, who set up their famous outdoor equipment business there. They sold the shop on retirement about 15 years ago. The shop still uses the Fisher name.

A few years ago a lot of original Abraham photgraphic plates were sold at auction, many being bought by local businessmen. You can buy prints made from these plates in a couple of shops in the town.

[RTomSizemore]

I recently purchased a box of Lantern Slides from an antique shop in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. Within the almost 100 slides, are several very nice original pictures taken by G. P. Abraham. Marked, "G. P. Abraham, Photo, Keswick". One is labeled, "Thirlmere & Helvellyn", and is an exceptional photo of the lake in B&W.
Is anyone aware of the value of such originals?

Thanks
Tom Sizemore
R.Tom.Sizemore@1972.USNA.Com

[kelvyn]

RTomSizemore Wrote:Is anyone aware of the value of such originals?

In 1995 around 500 of Abraham's photographic plates were autioned here, and other lots have been auctioned since. I spoke to a local who bought some plates for reproduction, and the price paid was not great, a few pounds per plate.

The photographs of Abraham's and other early Lake District photographers have been published in several books over the years, a useful source being http://www.bookscumbria.com/shop/6/38/index.htm

[oldflyboy]

(17-08-2008 07:31 PM)RTomSizemore Wrote:  I recently purchased a box of Lantern Slides from an antique shop in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. Within the almost 100 slides, are several very nice original pictures taken by G. P. Abraham. Marked, "G. P. Abraham, Photo, Keswick". One is labeled, "Thirlmere & Helvellyn", and is an exceptional photo of the lake in B&W.
Is anyone aware of the value of such originals?

Thanks
Tom Sizemore
R.Tom.Sizemore@1972.USNA.Com

---

I have just been given a substantial amount of unused, original postcards of The Lake District and amongst them is the one labelled "Thirlmere & Helvellyn". This one, however is by Photochrom.Co.Ltd.
The road is shown in the foreground, slightly right of centre curving through a wood. No date or reference number. Could this be the same as the Abraham image.

Thanks Keith Armstrong.

[JMCM]

After we got married in Keswick, I started collecting postcards published by G P Abraham in relation to the Keswick Country House Hotel. Soon my interest spread and I now have a very good quality collection of old postcards showing various images of Keswick and the surrounding landscape.
During one of our regular visits to Keswick, we popped into the local museum on Station Road.
and asked about GP Abrahams. The staff had never heard of him and could not tell us anything about him, apart from the coffee shop named after him above Fishers on Lake Road.
Not a major issue but quite disappointing, seeing as he did a lot for Keswick albeit many years ago. I know, the members of staff may have been pure volunteers but the organisers should recognise him to some degree, surely.

[tabernacleman]

I have just put up on E Bay two Oak Framed collages of G.P.Abraham photos, the frames include photo's of Napes Needle with lady climbers on top, Scawfell Pinnacle and the Arete, the second frame is of alpine mountains including the Matterhorn, I bought these framed photo's in Leicester over 20 years ago and think they shoud be owned and displayed by someone who will appreciate them. 11 photo's in all and somewhere I have a newspaper cuting showing the frames in the shop in Keswick.
I started my mountaineering life at the Outward Bound, Ulswater in 1958 and later attended as a temporary instructor, continued my love of the Lakes but now live in North Wales, ran the Three Peaks Yacht Race some years ago and I think that was my last time on summit of 'Scawfell' as depicted on the collages. A snapped achilles five years ago has restricted my montaineering but not my love of them.