A. E. Slater - Brighton Photographer

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 Albert Edward Slater - Photographer at 24 St George's Road, Brighton

[ABOVE] The Brighton photographer Albert Edward Slater (1863-1912) depicted in a portrait by Ebenezer Pannell of Hove. This portrait, which incorporates a photographic image of Albert Slater's head with an upper torso drawn in pencil and grey crayon, was probably produced as a memorial portrait shortly after Albert Edward Slater's death in 1912 at the age 49. [ABOVE] Mrs Matilda Jane Slater (formerly Shannon), the wife of the Brighton photographer Albert Edward Slater, photographed around 1895 at her husband's studio at 24 St George's Road, Brighton. Born at Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland, around 1860, Mrs Matilda Slater died in 1940, aged 80.

PHOTO: Courtesy of Sarah-Jane Wren

PHOTO: Courtesy of Sarah-Jane Wren

   
Albert Edward Slater (born 1863, Brighton, Sussex - died 1912, Brighton, Sussex )
Albert Edward Slater was born in Brighton early in 1863 and baptised at St Nicholas's Church, Brighton, on 16th August 1863. [ The birth of Albert Edward Slater was registered in the district of Brighton during the First Quarter of 1863 ]. Albert Edward Slater was the second son of Sarah Dartnell Dell and Henry Burchett Slater, a Brighton hairdresser.

Henry Burchett Slater, Albert's father, was born in Brighton in 1824, the son of Sarah and John Slater. In 1858, at the age of 34, Henry Slater married Sarah Dartnell Dell (born 1827, London). [The marriage of Henry Slater and Sarah Dartnell Dell was registered in the London district of Marylebone during the 4th Quarter of 1858].

At the time of his marriage, Henry Slater was running a hairdresser's shop at 6 Upper Bedford Street, Brighton. [Henry Slater had started a hairdressing business at 58 Upper Bedford Street, Brighton, before 1854]. Over the next twenty years, Henry Slater expanded his business. In 1866, Henry Slater was listed in local trade directories as a "hair dresser & tobacconist" at 6 Upper Bedford Street, Brighton and, by 1878, he had opened a second hairdressing establishment at 105A St George's Road in the Kemp Town district of Brighton.

[ABOVE] A hairdresser at work in 1859. This drawing is taken from a cartoon drawn by the artist and illustrator Charles Keene (1823-1891) and published in a magazine in 1859. Henry Burchett Slater (1824-1892), Albert Slater's father, ran a hairdressing business in Brighton between 1854 and 1892, the year of his death. As a young man, Albert Slater was employed as a "Hairdressing Assistant" in his father's shop in St George's Road, Kemp Town, Brighton.

The union of Henry Burdett Slater and Sarah Dartnell Dell produced two sons - John Henry Slater, who was baptised at St Nicholas's Church, Brighton, on 18th July 1861 and Albert Edward Slater who was born early in 1863.

When the census was taken on 3rd April 1881, Henry Burdett Slater and his family were recorded at 112 St George's Road, Brighton. On the census return, Henry B. Slater is described as a 56 year old "Hairdresser". Mr Slater was assisted in his hairdressing business by his two teenage sons, 19 year old John H. Slater and 18 year old Albert E. Slater, and young woman named Mary Ann Baker (born c1853, London), who boarded with the Slater family. [Mary Ann Baker, then working as a "Hairdresser's Assistant" in Henry Slater's shop, went on to marry a young photographer named Ebenezer Pannell (born 1860, Cliftonville, Hove) who opened a portrait studio in Kemp Town around 1883].

Albert Edward Slater - Photographer in Brighton's Kemp Town

Sometime during 1881, Albert Edward Slater decided on a change of career. Louis Dolibo (born c1831, France), a former language teacher and a 'Professor of French & German', had, around 1863, set himself up as a photographic artist at 24 St George's Road, Brighton, the same road where Albert Slater lived and worked in Kemp Town. Louis Dolibo ran the photographic studio and picture-framing business at 24 St George's Road from around 1864 until the beginning of 1881. Louis Dolibo planned to close his photographic studio in Kemp Town and establish a confectionery business in Brighton's Queen's Road. Although only 18 years of age, Albert Slater acquired Louis Dolibo's photographic studio at 24 St George's Road, Brighton and from the middle of 1881 he began taking carte-de-visite portraits at Dolibo's former studio.

For the first few months of business, Albert Edward Slater used the old card stock belonging to Louis Dolibo, the former proprietor of the studio. Albert Slater's early carte-de-visite portraits are rubber-stamped on the reverse with his trade plate, giving the photographer's credit as "A. E. Slater, Photographer, 24 St George's Road, Brighton". On the front and back of the card mount, Slater crossed out the name of his predecessor, rubber-stamping his own trade plate in purple ink on the reverse of the photographic card mount. [See the illustration on the right]

During the 1880s and 1890s, Albert Edward Slater produced small photographic portraits in the carte-de-visite format and larger images mounted on the increasingly popular cabinet card. Albert Slater designated a negative number to each photograph he took. In the space of 18 years, Albert Slater created around 6,000 photographic negatives, a relatively small number considering the length of time he was in business as a professional photographer. In his publicity, Albert Slater was keen to advise the public that, at his studio, "all negatives are preserved" and that "copies may always be obtained" from the kept negatives. Slater also advised his customers that, at his St George's Road premises in Brighton, all photographs could be "copied and enlarged in any style". Another service offered by Slater was to transfer photographs to surfaces other than paper, such as porcelain. From around 1895, A. E. Slater advertised the fact that he was a "Silver Medallist" in Photography.

During the period in which Albert Edward Slater was in business as a professional photographer in Kemp Town, there were, at any particular time, between 30 and 45 photographic portrait studios active in the town of Brighton. The trades section of Page's Directory of Brighton published in 1881 (the year that Albert Slater took over Dolibo's studio at 24 St George's Road, Kemp Town, Brighton) 32 studio proprietors were listed, of which 5 were operating in the area of Kemp Town and another two were based nearby, in or near Brighton's Chain Pier.

Albert Edward Slater's Wife and Family

Early in 1890, Albert Edward Slater married a 30 year old Irish woman named Matilda Jane Shannon (born c1860 Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland). The marriage was registered in the Kent district of Bromley during the 1st Quarter of 1890 and it is likely that wedding ceremony took place in Orpington, Kent, the area where Matilda's mother and brother lived. [ In 1891, Robert Alexander Shannon, MD, and Mrs Jane Shannon, Matilda's brother and mother, were residing at No.1 Grasmere, Crofton Road, Orpington, Kent ].

Matilda Jane Shannon, who was born in Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland, about 1860, was the daughter of Mrs Jane Shannon (born c1824, Ireland). Matilda had an older brother, Robert Alexander Shannon (born c1859, Naas, Kildare, Ireland), who was a physician and surgeon by profession. Presumably, Mrs Jane Shannon, together with her two grown-up children, Robert and Matilda, left Ireland after the death of her husband. The 1881 census records Mrs Shannon, Robert Alexander Shannon and Matilda Jane Shannon in North Wales, living in Llanllwchaiarn, near Newtown, Montgomeryshire. Dr Robert A. Shannon, a twenty-two year old "Physician & Surgeon", is entered as the 'Head of Household' at the family's residence in Upper Bridge Street. Mrs Jane Shannon, the young doctor's widowed mother, is described on the census return as a 57 year old 'Annuitant'. No profession or occupation is given for 20 year old Matilda Jane Shannon, so presumably she was supported financially by her mother and brother.

Early in 1891, Matilda, Albert Slater's wife, gave birth to a baby boy named Bertram Leslie Slater. [The birth of Bertram Leslie Slater was registered in Brighton during the First Quarter of 1891]. Another son, Eric Conrad Henry Slater, arrived the following year. [The birth of Eric Conrad Henry Slater was registered in Brighton during the 4th Quarter of 1892]. Albert and Matilda Slater's third child, a daughter named Violet Norah Kathleen Slater, was born towards the end of 1894.  [The birth of Violet Norah Kathleen Slater was registered in Brighton during the 4th Quarter of 1894].

Albert Edward Slater's Final Decade as a Photographer

When the census was taken on 5th April 1891, Albert Edward Slater was recorded as "Photographic artist (Employer)" at 24 St George's Road, Brighton. Sharing Albert Slater's home was Mary Jane Townsend, a 34 year old "Hair dresser's assistant" (possibly employed by Albert's father at his hairdressing shop at 112 St George's Road, Brighton) and 16 year old Emily Maria Ford, who was employed by the Slater family as a domestic servant. [At the time of the 1891 census, Albert's wife and child, Mrs Matilda Slater and 3 month old Bertram, were visiting Matilda's mother and brother in Orpington, Kent. Oddly, the Orpington enumerator had mistakenly recorded Matilda's child as a baby daughter, writing the name as "Bertha L. Slater"].

Albert Edward Slater continued as a professional photographer in Brighton until around 1900, when he sold his photographic studio to two brothers, Stanley Mann (born 1871, Kennington, London) and Sidney Herbert Mann (born 1873, Kennington, London). From 1900 until 1903, the studio at 24 St George's Road, Brighton traded under the name of Mann Brothers.*

 * The photographic studio at 24 St George's Road, Brighton went under the name of "Mann Brothers" until 1903, the year that Sidney Mann took sole control of the studio. For a brief period Sidney Mann operated the studio at 24 St George's Road under his own name, but in 1904 the studio was acquired by the firm of Pannell & Holden. For more details on Albert Slater's successors, see my web pages on Mann Brothers and Ebenezer Pannell and Frederick James Holden. A strange fact - the photographer Ebenezer Pannell, the senior partner in the firm of Pannell & Holden, which had taken over Slater's former photographic studio at 24 St George's Road in 1904, had, 22 years earlier, married hairdresser's assistant Mary Ann Baker, who, in 1881 was working alongside Albert in his father's hairdressing shop in 1881 ].

Albert Edward Slater - "Retired Photographic Artist"

When the census of 1901 was carried out, Albert Edward Slater was living with his wife and three children at 127 Queens Park Road, Brighton. The 1901 census return indicates that 38 year old Albert E. Slater was now employed as an "Accountant" for a firm of builders. No occupation is given for Mrs Matilda Slater, Albert's 40 year old wife, and the couple no longer employ a live-in servant.

I have not discovered much about Albert Slater's final 10 years of life. When the next census was taken on 2nd April 1911, Albert Edward Slater was still residing with his family at 127 Queens Park Road, Brighton, but he was no longer in employment. Under the heading of "PROFESSION or OCCUPATION", Albert Slater, then only 48 years of age, writes "Retired Photographic Artist". Given that over 10 years had elapsed since Albert Slater had earned his living with a camera, his self description as a "Retired Photographic Artist" is rather poignant and perhaps suggests that he still had a hankering for his former profession. Of his three grown-up children, only the eldest, 20 year old Bertram Leslie Slater, was in full-time, paid employment, working as a clerk in a mineral water factory. Sixteen year old Violet Slater was still at school and Eric Conrad Slater, then aged 18, was an "Engineering Student". Some money might have come to the Slater family when Mrs Jane Shannon, Albert's mother-in-law, passed away in 1903. It appears that Mrs Matilda Slater, Albert's wife, did not need to work for a living. At the time of the 1911 census, Mrs Matilda Jane Slater was visiting a 'Home for Young Women' at Calverley Hill, Tunbridge Wells. [Interestingly, a century on, Calverley Hill still serves as a housing project for young women]. It is possible that Matilda was a personal friend of Miss Alice Kensett, the Superintendent of the Home for Young Women. Significantly, on the census return, Matilda Jane Slater is described as a woman of "Private Means", which supports the theory that Mrs Slater had inherited money from her late mother's estate.

Albert Edward Slater died in 1912 at the age of 49. [The death of Albert Edward Slater was registered in Brighton during the 2nd Quarter of 1912]. Albert Slater's family were still living in Brighton during the 1920s. [ Violet Norah Kathleen Slater, Albert and Matilda's daughter, married in Brighton in 1924]. Albert's widow, Mrs Matilda J. Slater died in the Hampshire district of Aldershot in 1940 at the age of 80.

[ABOVE] The trade plate of Albert Edward Slater, Art Photographer of 24 St George's Road, Brighton, as printed on the reverse of a cabinet card (c1890). Albert Slater began his working like as an assistant hairdresser, but around 1881, he set himself up as a photographer in Kemp Town at 24 St George's Road, the former studio of Louis Dolibo (born c1831, France).
 
[ABOVE] The trade plate of Albert Edward Slater,  Photographer of 24 St George's Road, Brighton, rubber- stamped on the back of a photographic card mount produced for Louis Dolibo, the former owner of the studio. Until he was able to order some customized printed card mounts, Albert Slater had to 'make do' by using Monsieur Dolibo's old card stock, crossing out Dolibo's name and  rubber-stamping his trade plate on the reverse of the carte-de-visite portraits.

[ABOVE] A mother and daughter photographed in 1881 by Albert Edward Slater at his studio at 24 St George's Road, Brighton. Slater has crossed out the name of the studio's former proprietor (L. Dolibo) and rubber-stamped in purple ink the credit "A. E. Slater, Photographer, 24 St George's Road, Brighton" on the reverse of the carte-de-visite.
 

[ABOVE] A typical carte-de-visite portrait produced by Albert Edward Slater at his studio at  24 St George's Road, Brighton.  This carte carries the negative number 3419 and probably dates from around 1890.

[ABOVE] The trade plate of Albert Edward Slater, 'Art Photographer' of 24 St George's Road, Brighton (c1890). The number of the photographic negative  (No. 3419) is given at the foot of the card so that customers could order further copies or have enlargements made. Albert Slater also offered to transfer the photograph to other surfaces, such as porcelain.
 

[ABOVE] The signature of Albert Edward Slater as it appeared on the census return he completed on 2nd April, 1911. Under the heading of "PROFESSION or OCCUPATION", Albert Slater wrote "Retired Photographic Artist", even though more than 10 years had elapsed since he  had earned his living with a camera. A year later, at the relatively young age of 49, Albert Slater passed away.
 

The Children of Albert Edward Slater and Matilda Jane Shannon

The union of Albert Edward Slater and Matilda Jane Shannon produced three children - two sons and a daughter; Bertram Leslie Slater (birth registered in Brighton during the First Quarter of 1891), Eric Conrad Henry Slater (birth registered in Brighton during the 4th Quarter of 1892) and Violet Norah Kathleen Slater (birth registered in Brighton during the 4th Quarter of 1894].

[ABOVE] The three children from the union of Matilda Jane Shannon and the Brighton photographer Albert Edward Slater (c.1898). From left to right, the children are Bertram Leslie Slater (born 1891, Brighton), Violet Norah Slater (born 1894, Brighton) and Eric Conrad Henry Slater (born 1892). This portrait was probably taken by Albert Edward Slater himself, just a couple of years before he sold his Kemp Town studio to the Mann Brothers.

PHOTO: Courtesy of Sarah-Jane Wren

Bertram Leslie Slater (1891-1940). At the time of the 1911 census, 20 year old Bertram Leslie Slater was employed as a clerk at a mineral water factory. Bertram Slater went on to study medicine at Guy's Hospital and became a doctor. In 1920, Dr Bertram Slater married Elsie M. Banks in the Marylebone district of London. Bertram Leslie Slater died in Poole, Dorset, in 1940 at the age of 49.

Eric Conrad Henry Slater (1892-1915). When the census was taken on 2nd April 1911, Eric Conrad Henry Slater was an 18 year old engineering student residing with his parents and two siblings at 127 Queens Park Road, Brighton. By August 1914, Eric Slater was living near Hulme, a suburb of Manchester, possibly having just taken up a position in an engineering firm in the industrial north-west. At the outbreak of the First World War, Eric Slater enlisted in the 1/6th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, part of the Manchester Brigade of the Territorial Force, later to become the 127th Brigade, 42nd (East Lancashire) Division. In September 1914, Private Eric C. H. Slater arrived with his battalion at Alexandria to join other units of the Manchester Regiment at the Egyptian garrison. On 6th May 1915, Eric Slater's battalion sailed from Egypt and landed in Turkey at Cape Helles, Gallipoli, to reinforce the British beachheads which had been established during the initial landings on the Gallipoli peninsula in April 1915. Eric Conrad Henry Slater was 'Killed in Action' at Gallipoli (Turkey) on 28th May 1915, aged 22. At the time of his death, Private Eric Slater (TF/2366) was serving in the newly formed 42nd (East Lancashire) Division of the Manchester Regiment. Private Eric C. H. Slater is buried at Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery in Turkey. Eric Slater's name appears amongst the 1,215 casualties from the Manchester Regiment commemorated on the Helles War Memorial.

Violet Norah Kathleen Slater (1894 -). After leaving school, Violet Norah Kathleen Slater trained as a teacher, a profession she pursued until 1924, when she married Douglas William Wren (born 1901, Hove).

 

 

 

Carte-de-visite Portraits by A. E. Slater of 24 St George's Road, Brighton

[ABOVE] The trade plate design used by the Brighton photographer Albert Edward Slater during the early 1880s. Slater ordered printed card stock  from wholesale retailers such as Reeves & Hoare of London. Reeves & Hoare, a firm of lithographers, produced "high class mounts" and supplied a range of photographic apparatus to professional studios during the 1880s.

[ABOVE] A carte-de-visite portrait of a woman holding a fan, photographed by Albert Edward Slater of 24 St George's Road, Brighton (c1882). Negative No. 1,218. [ABOVE] The reverse of the carte-de-visite illustrated on the right showing the trade trade plate design used by A. E. Slater during the early 1880s. Neg. No.2,228. [ABOVE] A carte-de-visite portrait of a woman standing by a rustic fence, taken by Albert Edward Slater of 24 St George's Road, Brighton (c1883). Negative No. 2,228.

[ABOVE] A carte-de-visite portrait of a seated woman, with a book on her lap, photographed by Albert Edward Slater of 24 St George's Road, Brighton . Negative No. 2,196. Probably an image from the early 1880s reprinted on a bottle green card with gold lettering dating from the early 1890s. [ABOVE] The reverse of the carte-de-visite illustrated on the right showing the trade trade plate design used by the Brighton photographer Albert Edward Slater during late 1880s and early 1890s. Negative No. 2,827. The printer's mark ("Marion Imp. Paris") at the foot of the card indicates a date from around 1886. [ABOVE] A vignette portrait of a man with a large moustache, photographed by Albert Edward Slater, 'Art Photographer' of 24 St George's Road, Brighton (c1886). Negative No. 2,827. The reverse of this carte-de-visite photograph is shown on the left. The photographic card mount was produced by Marion & Co. of Paris & London. [ABOVE] A vignette portrait of a young woman wearing an elaborately decorated, black straw boater, taken by Albert Edward Slater, Art Photographer of 24 St George's Road, Brighton (c1886). The printer's mark ("Marion Imp. Paris") on the reverse indicates a date from around 1886.

[ABOVE] "Dolly". A vignette portrait of a young woman wearing a flat, round hat and a feather boa, taken by Albert Edward Slater, Art Photographer of 24 St George's Road, Brighton (c1895). Negative No.4653 [ABOVE] A vignette portrait of a woman with tightly-curled hair, photographed by Albert Edward Slater, Art Photographer of 24 St George's Road, Brighton (c1896). Negative No.5840. [ABOVE] A carte-de-visite portrait of a young girl, photographed by Albert Edward Slater of 24 St George's Road, Brighton (c1897). Negative No. 5942. [ABOVE] The reverse of the carte-de-visite illustrated on the left, showing the trade trade plate design used by the Brighton photographer Albert Edward Slater during late 1890s. Negative No. 5942. The negative number and the printer's mark ("Marion Imp. Paris." - -) at the foot of the card indicates a date from around 1897.
 

Cabinet Portraits by A. E. Slater of 24 St George's Road, Brighton

Cabinet Portraits

The small carte-de-visite photograph dominated commercial portrait photography for most of the Victorian period. The idea of a larger format for portrait photography was put forward by the London photographer Frederick Richard Window in 1866. The proposed format was a photographic print mounted on a sturdy card measuring 41/4 inches by 61/2 inches. (roughly 11cm x 17cm). The new format was called the Cabinet Portrait, presumably because a large photograph on a stout card could be displayed to good effect on a wooden cabinet or similar piece of furniture. Landscape views on card mounts of a similar size had been produced as early as 1862, but F. R. Window had introduced the cabinet format specifically for portraiture. Window believed the larger dimensions of the 'cabinet print' (4 inches by 51/2 inches or approximately 10.2 cm x 10.2 cm x 14.1 cm) would enable the professional photographer to demonstrate his technical and artistic skill and produce portraits of a higher quality than the small carte-de-visite would allow.

Although introduced in 1866, the cabinet portrait did not really establish itself until after the invention of dry plate photography and the reduction in plate exposure times to a fraction of a second. The arrival of "instantaneous photography" around 1880 allowed the cabinet format to be used to its full potential. The cabinet photograph increased in popularity in the late 1880s and 1890s, as the demand for carte- de-visite portraits declined. Much larger than the carte-de-visite, the size of the cabinet format made it particularly suitable for groups and family portraits. The introduction of "instantaneous photography" ensured that even restless and fidgety children in family groups could be captured sharply by the camera.

From the very beginning of his photographic career Albert Edward Slater produced cabinet photographs as well as carte-de-visite portraits. Albert Slater obtained his pre-printed cabinet cards from photographic suppliers such as Hodges & Co. of London, Trapp & Munch of Berlin and Marion & Co. of Paris & London.

[ABOVE] A vignette portrait of a young woman, a cabinet photograph produced by Albert Edward Slater, 'Photographic Artist' of 24 St George's Road, Brighton (c1884). Negative No. 1712

[ABOVE] A cabinet portrait of a girl in a lace-trimmed dress, photographed  by Albert Edward Slater, Photographer of 24 St George's Road, Brighton (c1895). Negative No. 4976. This cabinet card carries the printer's mark Trapp & Munch. The publicity on the back states that Slater was a 'Silver Medallist'. [ABOVE] A cabinet portrait of a young child, photographed  by Albert Edward Slater, Photographer of 24 St George's Road, Brighton (1896). Negative No. 5873. A hand-written inscription on the reverse reads "Frank, July 1896". This card carries the printer's mark '"Marion Imp. Paris."-- ..--'.

[ABOVE] A vignette portrait of a young woman wearing a dress with large, puffed sleeves, a cabinet photograph produced by Albert Edward Slater, Photographer and 'Silver Medallist' of 24 St George's Road, Brighton (c1896). Negative No. 5911. [ABOVE] A vignette portrait of a girl with a bow in her hair, a cabinet photograph produced by Albert Edward Slater, Photographer and 'Silver Medallist' of 24 St George's Road, Brighton (c1896). Negative No. 5804.
   

Fancy Dress Cabinet Photographs by Albert Edward Slater of 24 St George's Road, Brighton

Fancy Dress Photographs. During Victorian and Edwardian times, it was not uncommon for people to be photographed in historic or fancy costume. A number of professional photographers supplied historical costumes for their sitters to create a novelty portrait. Party-goers on their way to a "Fancy Dress Ball" had the opportunity to pose for their photographic portrait at a High Street studio wearing the costumes they had hired or created themselves for that special occasion. Some studios in Sussex supplied fancy dress or historical costumes for their customers' use during photographic sessions.

"Fancy Dress" balls were particularly popular during the Victorian and Edwardian period. From the 1880s up until after the First World War, local newspapers would publish reports on fancy dress balls and costume parties. Accounts in local newspapers would often give details of the costumes worn and list the names of the guests who won prizes for their party costumes.

Fancy Dress costumes could be hired for the occasion, but many enterprising young women made their own costumes. After spending hours making a costume for a Fancy Dress Ball it would seem sensible to preserve a memory of the hand-made garment and create a memento of the special occasion by commissioning a portrait from a local professional photographer.

Alfred Edward Slater, 'Photographic Artist' of 24 St Georges Road, Brighton employed the larger cabinet format to create a set of photographs depicting a group of young people wearing 18th century costume. (See left and below). The three men and two women who made up the group were probably on their way to a 'fancy dress' ball or historical pageant.

[ABOVE] A cabinet portrait of a group of young people wearing 18th century costume, photographed by A. E. Slater of 24 St Georges Road, Brighton (c1883). Although they could be mistaken as a troupe of actors and actresses, this group were probably on their way to a fancy dress ball or historical pageant. This "Cabinet Portrait" carries a negative number of 1,485, which suggests the photograph was taken during the early years of Albert Slater's photography business.

[ABOVE] A cabinet portrait showing a couple posing in  18th century costume, photographed by Albert Edward Slater of 24 St Georges Road, Brighton (c1883).  This "Cabinet Portrait", one of a set of three, carries a negative number of 1,487. This young couple are also featured in the group photograph above which has a negative number of  1,485. [ABOVE] The other couple in the group of five depicted in the "fancy dress" cabinet photograph illustrated top left. The seated man, like his kneeling partner, is dressed in  18th century costume. This "Cabinet Portrait" (Negative No. 1486) photographed around 1883 by Albert Edward Slater of 24 St Georges Road, Brighton  is one of a set of three (Negative Nos. 1485, 1486 & 1487).
 

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to Sarah-Jane Wren, the great grand-daughter of the Brighton photographer Albert Edward Slater (1863-1912), for providing the portraits of Albert Slater, his wife Matilda and their three children. Sarah-Jane, whose grandmother Violet Norah Kathleen Slater was Albert Slater's youngest child, also provided some information about Albert Slater's three children.

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