Frith, Francis, & Co

Notes:

Francis Frith, 1822-98, initially started out from 1840s to mid 1850s as a wholesale grocer and, later, printer and photograph seller at Liverpool. From c1859, reflecting his interest in photography, established at Reigate a business to photograph and publish topographical images of Britain. As Francis Frith & Co developed into a major photography and photographic printing and publishing business, especially of post cards. Became largest photographic publishing business in the world. Sometime also printed postcards and did news photography. Business subsequently run by Francis's sons. Printing business later sold and in due course became Cotswold Collotype Co based at Wotton under Edge. Photography business acquired by Sargeant family and run by them with great success until they sold out in 1968. Closed 1971 when the photographic archive was sold on and continues to be exploited commercially