中國漂流在外的文化:英國殖民者拍攝的中國老照片拍賣4萬英鎊(多圖)

The great haul ofChina: Incredible archive pictures of Chinese life in the 1860s taken by British colonialist sells at auction for £40,000
英國殖民者拍攝的1860年代中國老照片拍賣4萬英鎊

An historic collection of some of the firstphotographs taken in China have sold for a staggering £40,000 - four times theestimated value.在中國拍攝的這些首批歷史性的老照片拍賣出4萬英鎊的高價，是預估價值的4倍。

The album of rare images and alsowatercolours was complied by a British interpreter who worked in the Far Eastfor 50 years in the 19th century.
這些稀有的照片和水彩畫爲一名英國翻譯者所有，他於19世紀在遠東工作了50年。

Enterprising Herbert Elgar Hobson collectedthe shots of dignitaries, ships, landscapes and cities when he worked with theChinese Maritime Customs Service - a governmental tax collection agency.
當時他爲中國海關總稅務司（一個政府徵稅機構）工作，期間拍攝了這些高官，船隻，風景和城市的照片。

The collection - one of the best ever seenby experts - remained with his family until it sold for £40,000 at DominicWinter auctioneers in Gloucestershire on Thursday.
專家認爲這些藏品是同類中最好的之一，一直由其家人保管，最後於週四拍賣了4萬英鎊。

Auctioneer and senior valuer Chris Albury said: 'It was an album of about 200photographs and watercolours and printed items from between 1860 and 1870.
一名拍賣商兼高級估價師稱：“總共有200張1860年到1870年間的照片、水彩畫和印刷品。”

'They were collected by Herbert ElgarHobson, who was an interpreter for General Gordon during the Taiping Rebellion.
“蒐集者名叫HerbertElgar Hobson，太平天國運動期間，他是戈登將軍的翻譯。”

'He was working out there with the Imperial Maritime Customs out in China andhe worked out there for several decades.
“他還爲中國海關總稅務司工作，長達幾十年。”

He added: 'It is very special anddifferent.'
他說：“這些照片非常特別和與衆不同。”

'Everything in the album is annotated byHobson in his own hand so it offers a fascinating insight into thoughts of thetime.
“每張作品都有他本人的註釋，所以能一窺當時社會的思想面貌。”

'When I first opened it I sat down and looked at it and when I finished Ididn't know what to say.'
“當我第一次打開這本相冊時，我坐下來就那樣看着，看完後，我都不知道要說什麼了。”

There were five bidders of the phone fromAmerica, the UK and China, as well as buyers in the room from France andIreland and a handful of internet hopefuls.
美國英國中國總共5個電話競標人，當場還有來自法國和愛爾蘭的買家，還有一些網絡買家。

The album - as well as a second smallercollection by the same collector - went to the same agent on the phone bidder fromAmerica.
最終被一位美國電話競標人買走。

Hobson was born in Ashbourne, Derbyshireand arrived in Shanghai in August 1861 where he worked until his retirement in1912.

Hobson出生於德比郡的阿什本，1861年8月抵達上海，一直在上海工作到1912年退休。