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The International royal portraits album is a 76 page (24.75 x 20 cm) embossed leather album containing portrait photographs of royal families and statesmen from around the world, with a particular focus on western Europe. The album was compiled by Sarah T. Emmons beginning in 1870 and presented to her daughter, Clara G. Collins in 1885.

The International royal portraits album is a 76 page (24.75 x 20 cm) embossed leather album containing portrait photographs of royal families and statesmen from around the world, with a particular focus on western Europe. Most of the portraits are of contemporary rulers but there are also portraits of historical figures such as Mary Queen of Scots. Also present are photographs of statuary and other art. The inscription on the first page identifies Sarah Emmons as the compiler of the album, starting in 1870, which was then presented to her daughter Clara G. Collins in 1885. Many of the prints were added after 1870, for example one loose photograph of Stirling Castle has a note on the back indicating that it was purchased in 1874, whereas a photograph by Alexander Bassano of Alexandra of Denmark, wife of Edward VII, was not taken until 1881. Most of the portraits have captions written underneath identifying the subject. Researchers should be aware that not all of Sarah Emmons' identifications are correct.

Of note is the photograph on page 51 of Confederate President Jefferson Davis' children. The inscription underneath notes that the picture was "taken in Montreal, while they were fugitives there during the Civil War." At the request of his friend Jacob Thompson, Halmor Emmons dined with Davis while in Montreal on business in 1866. Supposedly Emmons and Davis spent the visit debating the justifications and causes of southern secession.

The back of the album contains loose photographs as well as newspaper clippings, mostly of poetry, inserted in the album presumably by Clara Collins. The latest of these clippings date to 1921.

Resarchers should be aware that the Library of Congress Subject Headings do not have authorized terms for all the individuals depicted in the album (for example, the Queen of Madagascar, Rasoherina, does not have an authority term). The subject list in this finding aid should therefore not be taken as all-encompassing.

Shadowed Liveries of ye Burning Sun is a carte-de-visite album containing pictures of monuments, buildings, and people in present-day Belgium, Germany, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

Shadowed Liveries of ye Burning Sun is a carte-de-visite album (16cm x 12cm) containing 47 pictures of monuments, buildings, and people in various European countries; one additional item is an unidentified silhouette. The volume's red pebbled cover has a metallic gold border and raised geometric designs; the book also has two metal clasps. A formal title, "Shadowed Liveries of ye Burning Sun. Animum Pictura Pascit Inani," is written in red and blue Gothic letters on the first page. With the exception of a silhouette and studio portrait at the back of the album, each photograph is captioned with its location and subject; the captions are written in red Gothic letters.

Most of the photographs show religious buildings, statues and memorials, castles, natural scenery, and street scenes in numerous cities and towns in present-day Germany, Belgium, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Some of the pictures were taken in large cities and others in German spa towns. Monuments include statues of prominent German historical figures and memorials at Waterloo. Pictures from Scotland show Lochs Ness and Lomond, as well as several castles, and one view from Frankfurt features the Hauptsynagoge, which has since been destroyed. The album contains six portraits of men and women in Belgium and in Bad Oeynhausen and Minden, Germany, including one of a female lace maker, two of women in "Antwerp costume," and three of boys and girls in "gala costume" posing next to a spinning wheel, with vibrant hand coloring. Two other items show a woman standing next to a milk cart and a man standing next to a bread cart, both pulled by dogs. The subjects of the silhouette and final studio portrait are unidentified. The silhouette is dated January 31, 1890. The studio portrait was taken in a Dublin studio.