L1.80 Bleek, Wilhelm, May, 1862

L1.80 Bleek, Wilhelm, May, 1862

Photographs and Portraits

1862

Carte de visite. Studio portrait. Bleek is seated with his right arm on a balustrade, a pair of gloves in his left hand. His hair, beard and moustache are neatly trimmed. "J. Kirkman, Photographic Artist" is printed on yellow label pasted onto the back of the card. The photograph, curved at the top, has been cut out and pasted onto a 4¾ x 2½ inch card. Oakleaf Album

In his letter to Jemima Lloyd dated April 9, 1862, Bleek writes: 'Now I must explain why I do not send my photograph this time, as I promised. In the first time I could not well have it taken, as I had just begun for sanitary reasons (as a kind of natural aspirator [?]) to let my beard entirely grow and it of course had to grow to some length before it was presentable. Last week . . . I went several times to the Photographer, but found him always engaged and many parties waiting, I could never get a chance of being taken particularly as I was in great press of business and could not wait. Now I shall try my luck immediately after the mail is gone, if all remains well, but I think it now better not to promise you anything so that way my promise may not remain unfulfilled.' Bleek wrote again on April 28, but it was only in his letter of May 4 that he enclosed the long awaited photograph: 'I enclose my photograph which I luckily got done this time, and as I think and am told by others, very well for a Cape photographist. I had ord [ordered] it done at once, of which you get the best; the next best is sent to Lucy to give her an idea of the outward appearance of her brother.'