Marcus GUTTENBERG

Marcus Guttenberg 1828 – 1891

Photographic Business

Marcus Guttenberg practised as a daguerreotypist in Hungary, Prussia, Poland and Germany before starting his photographic business in England from about 1851 onwards.

He operated from about 24 different studios in the north east of England before moving to Bristol and eventually moving on to the Manchester area.

Marcus died in 1891; although studios continued in his name until at least 1895 as borne out by the London Gazette.

Operating dates are available for most, but not all, of Marcus’ studios.

Census

1851 – age 23, Marcus Gatenberg (sic) in Carlton, Selby (occupation – glazier) as a lodger with Ann Turner (age 77)

1861 – age 36, in Scarborough with Elizabeth and three children(occupation – photographic artist)

1871 – age 43, in Bristol with Henrietta, 5 children, a nurse and a servant (occupation – photographer)

1881 – age 51, in Chorlton on Medlock, Lancashire with Henritta (sic), six children a servant and a nurse (occupation – photographic artist)

1891 – age 62, in Chorlton on Medlock, Lancashire with Henrietta, six children a servant and a nurse (occupation – photographer)

1901 – age 55, Henrietta in Hendon (occupation – boarding house keeper) with Beatrice, Violet and Daisy

Marcus Guttenberg was born in 1828 in Wloclawek, Poland (which was then ruled by Russia) to Marcus (senior) who was a schoolmaster.

There was a George Gerson Guttenberg, also a photographer, born in Wloclawek, Poland, in about 1830 who could have been Marcus’s brother. He lived in Gloucestershire in 1871.

Marcus is known to have practised as a daguerreotypist in Hungary, Prussia, Poland and Germany before arriving in England prior to 1851.

In 1851 Marcus Gatenberg (sic), aged 23, was lodging with Ann Turner (age 77) in Carlton, Selby where Elizabeth came from and his occupation was given as ‘glazier’.

In 1852 Marcus was advertising a studio at 19 London Road, Derby.

Marcus married Elizabeth Pheasant on the 3 January 1853 at Carlton in the district of Selby and on his marriage certificate his occupation was stated as ‘daguerreotypist’. Elizabeth was about eight years younger than Marcus and was the daughter of William Pheasant, a gunsmith from Snaith in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Marcus & Elizabeth Guttenberg – Marriage Certificate – 1853

Their first child, James Guttenberg was born in1854.

In 1854, Marcus set up a temporary studio in Harrogate and later, in 1855, at Malton (North Riding of Yorkshire) and by 1856 was at both Market Place and Promenade at Bridlington on the East coast.

Marcus Guttenberg junior was born in 1855 and Annie Guttenberg, their third child was born in 1856.

In 1858 he was advertising as being opposite the Royal Hotel in Filey and by 1858 he was living in Scarborough and advertised his studios at 9 St. Nicholas Street, Scarborough and at Westborough, Scarborough in trade directories in that year. He referred to himself in advertisements as ‘Herr Guttenberg, artist from Berlin with eighteen years experience’. He said his portraits were ‘acknowledged to be equal to the best of London or Paris’.

Marcus and Elizabeth had a son, William, who was born in Scarborough about 1859.

In 1857, 1859 and 1860 he advertised his seasonal availability ‘opposite Field House’ in Whitby where he offered calotype or Talbotype portraits on paper or ivory (see ‘Whitby Photographers, their lives and their photographs from the 1840s’ by Ruth Wilcock – page 15).

In 1861 Marcus was at Falsgrave Walk in Scarborough whilst he still had his studio there at Westborough. Interestingly he still visited Whitby every Thursday and took photos at Mr. Consitt’s Photographic Gallery in Skinnergate. His advertisement stated that ” As Mr G will only be in Whitby one day a week, Thursday, he will take the negatives in Whitby and finish them in Scarbro’ when the pictures will be ready by the Thursday following, or sent by post, if required” (see ‘Whitby Photographers, their lives and their photographs from the 1840s’ by Ruth Wilcock – page 15).

In the census of 1861 Marcus was living at 7 St. John Street, Scarborough with Elizabeth and their three children James Guttenberg (7), Annie Guttenberg (5) and William Guttenberg (2). Marcus was a ‘photographic artist’.

In 1862, it appears, from a legal notice issued in 1890 in respect of a dispute regarding Elizabeth’s father’s will, that Elizabeth left Scarborough and moved to Paris – see below.

Guttenberg, Elizabeth London Gaz 1890 re: fathers will

To date, no record has been found of the death of Elizabeth Guttenberg nor the marriage of Marcus to Henrietta. Therefore it is possible that Marcus and Henrietta were not able to get married. Henrietta Pflaum was born in Rawicz, Poland in 1845 and Marcus and she had nine children together.

Marcus appears to have been advertising a studio in Stockton on Tees in 1867 and in other places in the area such as Malton, West Hartlepool, Beverley and Hull (Kingston on Hull) although the relative dates are not known and it also appears he may have been in business with a Mr. Hoggard as ‘Guttenberg & Hoggard’ in the towns of Darlington and Stockton on Tees.

However, there was a George Gerson Guttenberg, also a photographer, born in Wloclawek, Poland, in about 1830 who could have been Marcus’ brother as some records refer solely to Mons. Guttenberg. George was a photographer in Stockton on Tees in 1867, and in Bristol in the 1871 census. He was probably also the Guttenberg photographer listed in Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire where he is noted as a boot and shoe dealer in an 1880 bankruptcy and he is listed as a travelling boot and shoe salesman there in the 1881 census. George is listed as a photographer in Salford, Lancashire in the 1891 census and died there in 1894. It is possible that George was a photographer but worked for Marcus in one of Marcus’ studios.

By 1866 Marcus had moved to the Bristol area and advertised a studio at 27 Triangle.

About 1867, Marcus and Henrietta had a son, Charles Marcus Guttenberg, who was born in Bristol and later, at the age of 15, was recorded as a photographer.

Beatrice Hester Guttenberg was born in 1867. followed by Edward Norman Guttenberg in 1869 but unfortunately he died the same year.

In 1868 Marcus moved from 27 Triangle to 29 Triangle.

In 1869, Marcus took on an apprentice called William Friese Green. Friese Green went on to become a very famous photographer in Bath and the West Country. He also was an inventor and was very involved in early cinematography.

Edward Norman Guttenberg was born in 1869 but unfortunately he died the same year.

Early in 1870, Marcus moved studio again, this time to 17 Royal Promenade in Clifton where the family lived on the premises. The 29 Triangle studio continued in operation but was run by Robert Easton under the trading name of M Guttenberg. We can only surmise what sort of reasons there were for Easton not trading in his own name. The advertisement below dated June 1870 shows that Marcus was ‘late of 29 Triangle’. A subsequent notice in July 1882 declared that Easton was bankrupt whilst trading as M Guttenberg.

Bristol Times and Mirror – Friday 24 June 1870

In 1870 Alexander Percy Guttenberg arrived. He is sometimes referred to as Percy and the census taken on the 2 April 1871 shows that Marcus was 43 years old and married to Henrietta. They were living at 17 Royal Promenade, Bristol, his studio, with Annie Guttenberg (14), William Guttenberg (11), Charlie Guttenberg (5), Beatrice Hester Guttenberg (4), and Alexander Percy Guttenberg (9 months). They also had a servant aged 33 called Emma Coward and a 24 year old nurse called Kate Hill.

Nora Blanche Guttenberg was born in Bristol in 1875.

Between 1876 and 1878 when Marcus was at 17 Royal Promenade in Clifton he produced the new chromotype photographs under license. The process presented rich shiny brown images which were permanent and have certainly stood the test of time. An example is shown below which still has its protective tissue attached.

Guttenberg, M cdv111 chromotype

Guttenberg, M cdv111 Tissue

Marcus Guttenberg had an inventive mind and filed his own patent no. 1502 in 1878 relating to photo mechanical printing.

Guttenberg, M patent 1878

Marcus moved to Manchester in 1878 and the studio at 29 Triangle was still run by Robert Easton although it continued to trade under the name M Guttenberg. The studio continued under this name until 1887 but was probably run by Robert Easton until 1882 when he was made personally bankrupt.

Guttenberg, M Bankrupt July 1882

Guttenberg, M Bankrupt Oct 1882

Robert Easton had run a studio in his own name in Glasgow in the mid to late 1860s. He was listed as a photographer in Glasgow in the 1871 census.

It is possible that Marcus’ son, William, ran the 29 Triangle studio after Easton’s bankruptcy as he later took the studio over in his own name in 1887 and ran it until 1892 – see below.

Meanwhile, Marcus had moved to Manchester by 1878 where his son Maximilian Lionel Guttenberg was born.

In the 1881 census he was living with Henrietta (Henritta) and 6 children Charles Guttenberg (15), Beatrice H Guttenberg (14), Alexander P Guttenberg (10), Nora D Guttenberg (6), Maximulian L Guttenberg (3) and Violet L Guttenberg (baby). Also in the household was a servant and a nurse. There is no record of James (27), Annie (25) nor William (22). They were all at 361 Oxford Street, Chorlton on Medlock, Lancashire which was the same address as his studio.

By 1884 he had moved his studio to Kensington House, 316 Oxford Street, Manchester and this is the address shown on the back of the photo of his youngest child, Daisy. He advertised that studio from 1884 to 1890.

Also from 1884 to 1890 Marcus had another studio at Central Chambers, 26 Victoria Street, Manchester.

Marcus Guttenbergs’ daughter Daisy about 1885

Marcus lodged a second patent no. 10145 in 1890 regarding photo finishing.

In 1889/1890 Marcus moved his studio to 131 Oxford Street, Manchester and by 1891 he had moved to 323 Oxford Road, Chorlton-upon-Medlock where it stayed open in his name after his death until 1895.

In the 1891 census Marcus was with Henrietta and had 6 children both from his first marriage and his second marriage. William Guttenberg (32), Charles Guttenberg (25), Beatrice Guttenberg (23), Percy Guttenberg (20), Violet Guttenberg (10) and Daisy Guttenberg (6). Also in the household were Christiana Brown and Dorothy Fleming who were probably servants.

Marcus Guttenbergs’ daughter Daisy about 1890

Marcus died on the 11 June 1891 in Manchester, being quite a bit older than Henrietta and his studios continued in business managed by his son Alexander Percy Guttenberg.

Marcus left an estate of £1,023 11s 5d as follows

Also, interestingly, photographs were registered at the National Archives in Kew in the name of Marcus Guttenberg in 1892 – see below:

“Photograph of Very Rev Monsignor Canon Gadd, Vicar General & Bishop Elect of the Diocese of Salford, nearly full face, head & shoulders, marked No 2”.

Copyright owner and author of work: Marcus Guttenberg, 323 Oxford Road, Manchester. Form Completed 1 April 1892. Registration stamp: 2 April 1892

“Photograph of Very Rev Monsignor Canon Gadd, Vicar General & Bishop Elect of Salford, ¾ length, nearly full face, in official robes, seated”.
Copyright owner and author of work: Marcus Guttenberg, 323 Oxford Road, Manchester. Form Completed 1 April 1892. Registration stamp: 1 April 1892

“Photograph of Very Rev Monsignor Canon Gadd, Vicar General & Bishop Elect of Salford, ¾ length, nearly full face, standing in official robes near table with open book”.
Copyright owner and author of work: Marcus Guttenberg, 323 Oxford Road, Manchester. Form Completed 1 April 1892. Registration stamp: 2 April 1892

Covering dates 1892 April 1
Held by The National Archives, Kew
Legal status Public Record(s)
Language English
Dimensions 13cm x 10cm

By 1895, Henrietta was on the electoral roll as living in 37 West End Lane, Kilburn

Hampstead, Camden 1895 electoral roll

In April 1895 the firm of M Guttenberg Limited was declared insolvent and was being wound up – see below.

Guttenberg, M Ltd Winding up 1895

Guttenberg, M Ltd Creditors 1895

Guttenberg, M Ltd Liquidated 1896

Although he had died by 1895, a studio appears to have been advertised in his name in London at 50 High Road, Kilburn but corroborating evidence has not yet been found for this trade directory entry.

In early 1896, Marcus’ son Charles died in tragic circumstances -see below – was this perhaps related to the demise of the family firm, M Guttenberg Limited?

The Morning Post (London, England), Friday, 3 January 1896, p. 7

Following Marcus’ death, Daisy moved with her mother Henrietta to Willesden and was working as a photographic assistant.

In 1897 Marcus’ daughter, Beatrice Hester Guttenberg, was on the electoral roll at 41 Belsize Road, London NW

Electoral Roll, Hampstead, Camden 1897

By 1901 Henrietta was keeping a boarding house in Willesden. Living with her were Beatrice (31), Violet (20 – a photographic assistant) and Daisey (sic) (16). Also in the house were nine other people, presumably lodgers.

Violet Leah Guttenberg was baptised on the 10th March 1901 in the parish of St. Paul in South Hampstead, Middlesex. Her date of birth was recorded as the 26 April 1880 and her address was given as 35 Brondesbury Villas. She was 21 when baptised. Violet Leah wrote three books: ‘Neither Jew Nor Greek’ [1902], ‘The Power Of The Palmist’ [1903]and ‘A Modern Exodus’ [1904].

Henriette Guttenberg was listed on the electoral roll at 35 Brondesbury Villas, Kilburn, London NW in both 1905 an1906.

1905, 1906 Willesden, Harrow

Henrietta died in Hendon in 1905 (1906?) and she was 59 years old. Her daughter Daisy was living there at the time.

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Daisy Guttenberg and Alec Power (Photographer)

My brother remembers being told that our grandmother, Daisy, went to finishing school in Belgium.

Daisy married photographer, Alec Power, in Hendon in 1904.

Daisy and Alec Power in a smart motor in about 1920

In 1911 Alec and Daisy Power were living with two sons (one of them my father) in Kentish Town. In Kelly’s Directory for 1939 Alec Power was a photographer at 47 Station Road, Birchington, Kent. In 1954 Alec and Daisy celebrated their golden wedding in Addlestone, Surrey. Alec died in 1955.

Barbara’s recollections

Alec Power was born in 1876 in Islington. He had two sisters and a brother. I only just remember my grandfather, Alec Power. I remember the golden wedding. I remember my grandmother, Daisy, quite clearly. She didn’t talk about her past, and I had no idea until I did my research, after finding all the family photos after my parents died, that my great grandparents came from Poland. It was as if she didn’t want anyone to know. Wloclawek had a flourishing sizable Jewish population for hundreds of years so maybe they were Jewish. Although I had Jewish friends, if she did have Jewish connections she never mentioned them. I was only aware of one of her siblings and that was her sister Violet. The others were all quite a bit older and were probably children of Marcus’s first wife.

Barbara Ayers née Power

Related Photographers

• Marcus Guttenberg junior – Marcus’ son

• William Guttenberg – Marcus’ son

• Charles Guttenberg – Marcus’ son

• Alexander Percy Guttenberg (known as Percy Guttenberg) – Marcus’ son – who has photographs in The National Portrait Gallery and in John Hannavy’s book ‘The Victorians and Edwardians at Work’. He specialised in portraits of actors and actresses

• Violet Guttenburg (photographic assistant) – Marcus’ daughter

• Daisy Guttenburg (photographic assistant) – Marcus’ daughter

• Gerson Guttenburg – probably Marcus’ brother

• Alec Power – Marcus’ son in law (married to Daisy Guttenberg)

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Marcus’ Guttenberg’s Family

Father Marcus Guttenberg

Mother xxx

Marcus Guttenberg

Born 1828 – in Wloclawek, Poland

Baptised not applicable

Married (1) 3 January 1853 to Elizabeth Pheasant, at Carlton, Selby

Child 1 c 1854 – James Guttenberg, born in ???

Child 2 1855 – Marcus Guttenberg, baptised Great Ouseburn, Yorkshire

Child 3 c 1856 – Annie/Hannah Guttenberg, born in Scarborough

Child 4 1858 – William Guttenberg, born in Scarborough

Married ? (2) in or after 1862 to Henrietta Pflaum, born Rawicz, Poland 1845 – died Hendon 1905

Child 5 1865 – Charles Marcus Guttenberg, born in Bristol, died 1896

Child 6 1867 – Beatrice Hester Guttenberg, born in Bristol

Child 7 1869 – Edward Norman Guttenberg, born in Bristol, died 1869

Child 8 1870 – Alexander Percy Guttenberg, born in Bristol

Child 9 3 Apr 1873 Rudolph Ernest Guttenberg, born 17 The Promenade, Bristol; died 1876

Child 10 1875 – Nora Blanche Guttenberg, born in Bristol

Child 11 1877 – Maximilian Lionel Guttenberg, born in Manchester

Child 12 26 April 1880 – Violet Leah Guttenberg, born in Manchester

Child 13 1884 – Daisy Gertrude J Guttenberg, born Manchester

Died 11 June 1891at 323 Oxford Street, Manchester

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Sources

Barbara & Peter Ayers – barbara.ayers697@btinternet.com – family historians
Sandy Barrie for trade directory information
Marcel Safier for much significant, additional research
Ron Cosens for images from the Victorian Image Collection
‘A Faithful Likeness’ by Bernard & Pauline Heathcote
‘Photographers in C19th Scarborough’ by Anne & Paul Bayliss

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Marcus Guttenberg – Gallery

Examples of Marcus’ photography are shown below.

The North East of England – various studios

Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 1	Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 1 (verso)
Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 2
Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 3	Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 3 (verso)

Bristol studios

Manchester studios

Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 24	Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 24 (verso)
Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 25	Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 25 (verso)
Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 26	Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 26 (verso)
Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 26.1	Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 26.1 (verso)
Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 27	Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 27 (verso)
Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 28	Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 28 (verso)
Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 29	Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 29 (verso)
Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 30	Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 30 (verso)
Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 31	Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 31 (verso)
Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 32	Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 32 (verso)
Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 33	Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 33 (verso)
Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 34	Marcus Guttenberg carte de visite photograph 34 (verso)