BRUNEL ISAMBARD KINGDOM: (1806-1859) British Engineer. A rare vintage signed carte-de-visite photograph by Brunel ...

BRUNEL ISAMBARD KINGDOM: (1806-1859) British Engineer. A rare vintage signed carte-de-visite photograph by Brunel, the original image seemingly removed and subsequently neatly and professionally replaced with a vintage albumen image of the famous portrait of Brunel by Robert Howlett depicting the engineer standing in a full length pose in front of the giant launching chains on the 'checking drum' braking mechanism at John Scott Russell's Millwall shipyard in 1857. Signed ('I K Brunel') by Brunel in dark fountain pen ink with his name alone to the lower photographer's mount, the very upper edge of his signature slightly obscured as a result of the image being laid down above the signature. With the imprint of the London Stereoscopic Company to the verso. Some extremely minor, light age wear and a couple of light scuffs to the image. About VG £2000-3000 The iconic image of Brunel was captured by Robert Howlett as part of his commission for the Illustrated Times to document the construction of the world's largest steamship, the SS Great Eastern which had been designed by Brunel. The present image was taken in November 1857 to celebrate the launch of the steamship and has been described as 'one of the first examples of environmental portraiture'. Robert Howlett (1831-1858) British Photographer, a pioneer in the field who, upon his untimely death at the age of 27, was described by the Illustrated Times as 'one of the most skilful photographers of the day'. Despite the present example not being a signed photograph of Brunel in it's true, original state, it nevertheless remains an extremely rare example of a signed portrait of the engineer that would, in our opinion, certainly satisfy the desires of most collectors looking to acquire a signed photograph of Brunel.