The Photograph That Began It All

It is a family famous photograph. Static but pivotal. The original copy in our family is a faded sepia Carte de Visite. A pocket-sized photograph mounted on card. This was proudly introduced as “Appoo” – to me he is my 3X Great Grandfather John Jacobus Appoo.

 It has connected distant descendants proudly sharing his image, and his heritage. Copies are spread amongst the broad branches of the family tree – it added history, and gave answers to questions about our skin colour. The acceptance and pride in our heritage increasing with each generation.

The photograph shows a man seated, his arms resting on the arms of a chair. His plump cheeked face is decorated with a well-trimmed and shaped beard curving around his mouth up to a point under his nose. Through this triangle his chin and mouth are visible.  His face, other than his beard is smooth-shaven, and appears dark-skinned.  A serious face with no smile visible. His eyes seeming to look out to one side. His hair coiffed as a well-presented schoolboy – parted on one side, smoothed carefully across his head with a hint of the curls trying to escape.

His shirt is a pale colour possibly white, showing baggy full sleeves, the collar slightly askew with a darker scarf like tie around the collar. Over the balloon sleeved shirt, he is wearing a single-breasted buttoned vest with lapels – wrinkled, not quite well-fitting.  

His hands clearly visible with long fine fingers. One hand holding possibly a pipe, or is it a large ring? The poor clarity of the photograph makes it difficult to clearly identify what he is holding. Tucked into the crook of this other arm, lies a baby, firmly supported with his long fingers spread, supporting the baby’s draped body.

The baby lies with its eyes closed, clothed in what appears to be a flounced gown, and possibly a tiny leg in patterned socks visible beneath. Automatically, with modern thinking one assumes the baby is sleeping – or is it the 19^th century way of photographing a loved one who has died.

The photograph has no background and little furniture other than a glimpse of the chair he is seated in.

On the original Carte Viste cover a flourish on the front announces W.H. Perkins. Greymouth. Strangely on the back another photographer well known in New Zealand late 19^th century – James Ring. Greymouth.

The reproduction of the photograph is itself history. A history of technology from the birth of photography; advent of the Carte de  Visite; evolutions of reproducing images – from a negative, a photocopy, scanning, and now digital photography.

The date of the photograph is an ongoing source of discussion and remains unknown. Any suggestions would be very welcome in the Comments below.

This is the kind of photograph you plead with to release just a small secret. Please just a tiny piece of information that might add to the story of this most elusive ancestor. Silence answers the plea.

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