Alfred Seaman and the PCUK

Alfred Seaman's Stereoscopic Photography

Alfred made his living as a studio photographer, taking portaits in his studios, selling frames and enlargements and later undertaking processing for amateur photographers.

At some point in the mid 1880s however he took up stereoscopic photography.  It seems likely that he was introduced to stereo work by members of the PCUK who included the eminent stereo photographers William England (of the London Stereopscopic Company) and Richard Keene (later a member of the Brotherhood of the Linked Ring). The photograph above is from a stereo self portrait Alfred took in the mirror at Smedley's Hydro in Matlock. Stereo clearly became a great passion of his and he produced many excellent stereo images of his family life. As an astute businessman he also saw an opportunity for a profit here, as stereo photographs were making something of a comeback at this time. The American firm of Underwood & Underwood imported 3 million stereoviews to England in 1894 and Alfred saw the chance to be part of this revived market.

Alfred advertised  '1500 stereoviews , all natural subjects, no made up effects' and sold from his own shops and to wholesalers. He also sold negatives on to national publishers such as the Fine Art Photographers Company to be printed and sold under their name. Many, if not the majority, of his commercial stereoviews were taken while he was at a PCUK Convention. It is possible to match up his stereoviews with the locations of most PCUK events from 1886 to 1905.