Views of Benares Presented by the Maharajah of Benares. Circa 1931. Oblong 4to, 241 x 311 mm. 31 original silver gelatin photographic prints, mounted on thick cardstock, most approx 235 x 232 mm, each with printed caption. 

An attractive photographic album of Varanasi, then known as Benares in the English-speaking world. Seated upon the Ganges River in northern India, it is a major pilgrimage site in the Hindu world. The album includes several views of the ghats lined with temples, royal residences, and a view of nearby Sarnath where the Buddha first preached. Notably he album also includes a full-length portrait of Maharajah Prabhu Naryan Singh and his son and successor, Aditya Narayan Singh (1855-1931), both captioned in manuscript and the latter dated 1931. 

Maharajah Prabhu Naryan Singh became the first Maharaja of the new created princely state of Benares in 1911. He received several knighthoods and honors within the British Empire, including the Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSA) for his services in World War I. 

[Photography, Early Photography, Historic Photography, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Tintypes, Cased Images, Union Cases, Albumen Photographs, CDVs, Carte de Visites, Cartes de Visite, Carte-de-visite, Cartes-de-visite, CDV, Cabinet Cards, Stereoviews, Stereocards] [India, Indain History]