Hardy (Thomas).- Lea (Hermann) Superb collection of c.64 original photographs of 'Dorset characters', many mounted on card, many captioned in pencil to verso (in various hands) and often signed by Lea, generally very good condition, Dorset, v.s. [c.1897-1912].

⁂ A wonderful glimpse back in time to rural life in Wessex at the turn of the 19^th/20^th century, with individuals and groups in their natural surroundings and captured in a pure and honest light. Whilst not directly related to Hardy, these figures represent the typical characters who populate his fictional works and by whom he was surrounded and would certainly have been greatly influenced when creating the atmosphere and people of Wessex. Children at play, labourers, young lovers, individual portraits of old men and young girls, all caught in the moment and without pretence. One individual is identified by name - "William Churchill 1897, in working garb. Fought in Crimea"; another shows a young lad holding a bucket talking on a doorstep with a girl who leans on a broom, and is signed by Lea on verso and simply captioned "Courtship"; there are 3 images of a local cobbler at work; and an image of two workers on a country track by a horse and cart is similarly signed by Lea and captioned in another hand "Return of Native file"; and there are several shots of the Woodbury Hill Fair.