Thailand and Burma 1927 - 1938. Photograph album, Borneo Company Ltd.
1927. Hardcover. An album of real snap shot photographs, hundreds of views of Thailand and Myanmar (Burma,) taken by an employee of the Borneo Company Ltd., one of the oldest companies based in East Malaysia, founded in London in 1856 to do business in Borneo (Sarawak) and southeast Asia.
BCL was involved in banking, import and export, the production of agricultural commodities, minerals, and especially in producing teak (mainly in Thailand). The main office was located in Singapore, with branches in Thailand, Indonesia and Hong Kong.
The photographer has done a very thorough job of recording all aspects of life at the time. A wide range of subjects is included, from expat life, local flooding (Lakon Floods, Sawankalok Floods), salvaging goods from the flooded markets, refugees, the British Consulate, the market, numerous river scenes, the Borneo Company compound, family life and business associates.
Many snap shots of the album owner's trips to various sites including Paknampho, Angkor Wat, Sucothai, river trip from Paknampho to Atudhya, Me Chem, a sea trip to the Siamese coast, Me Way, Me Ping, Langsuan, Khum tan, Kor Lak, and "Edible Birds' Nest Islands.
Vessels identified include: "Arrival of the 'Constitution' at Paknampho 6.10.34 - Passing Percy's Pub"; and the '"Empress of Russia', Hong Kong to Shanghai (1936).
Captions hand written in white identify the following individuals: Gill, Thern, Williams, Barron, Captain Naris, Wergeni (likely Mr. T. Wergeni, a Swedish officer in the forest service of the East Asiatic Company), Chief Officer Andreson, "Capt. Faurskow and Siamese princess (12.6.33)", and Hartley.
Due to their size, the album contains approximately 900 snap shots, laid down on 96 leaves, front and verso. Many of the snapshots are contact sheet size, 1 3/4 x 1 1/2", cut apart and laid down with 6 across and 4 down per page. Other photographs are as large as 5 3/4 x 4". Album measures 12 x 7 1/2", black stiff cloth covered boards, cord bound. Eastman Kodak album, with a Thai language sticker inside rear cover, for the manufacturer of the album or bookseller. Fine. Item #23291
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