Carte de visite of Cakobau, "king" of the Fiji Islands.

c. 1869. A strong unidentified albumen photograph of a handsome elderly man, white haired & mustached, wearing traditional clothing, with a wrapped garment & belt, holding a baton. Cakobau (ca. 1815 - 1883) was a self-declared king of Fiji, at a time when other chiefs felt he was one among equals in the period before British annexation in October 1874. Cakobau united warring tribes and established a united Fijian kingdom. Period hand-written inscription in pencil "Thakombau (sp?) - Cakobau - King of the Fiji Islands".

3 3/4 x 2 3/8" albumen photograph on 2 1/2 x 4" card. No photographers imprint on verso. Photograph unsunned, slt. foxing on card back o/w vgc. Trove 24433506 locates a different carte de visite of Cakobau, in which he is dressed in western clothing; this image not found in Trove. Item #11548

Price: $450.00