Early New Zealand Photographers: March 2016

Thomas Sankey Tolputt

Thomas Sankey Tolputt born circa 1860 Folkestone, Kent, England, birth reg. Oct-Dec 1860, Elham vol. 2a page 671, son of Charlotte Sankey and William Bennett Tolputt [Organist, Professor of Music, Music Teacher and Seller], baptised 19 September 1860, Folkestone, arrived New Zealand about 1883 aged about 23 years, died 9 June 1933 at his son's residence, 89 Trafalgar Street, St Albans, Christchurch aged 73 years, buried Bromley Cemetery, block 2, plot 227, married 7 September 1887 Christchurch, Charlotte Ball, died 21 July 1929, Jubilee Memorial Home, Christchurch, buried Bromley Cemetery block 35, plot 359.

Worked for Peter Schourup from about 1883 until Schourup's death in 1887, later for Eden George and in 1890 was working for Robert Walter Meers.

circa December 1891 - circa June 1892, 141 Manchester Street, Christchurch
1895 - 1909, Rangiora.

Volunteering

The Committee of the Boxing Day Volunteer Rifle Competition have much pleasure in acknowledging, on behalf of the Volunteers, the receipt of the undermentioned Prizes given by the Tradesmen and Merchants of Christchurch:—
...Vol. Talputt (sic) 1/4 doz. silk scarfs - N.Z. Tweed Company ...

Press, Volume XLIII, Issue 6331, 4 January 1886

The Hillsborough Camp. — We have received a set of photographs of the recent Volunteer Encampment at Hillsborough, taken by Sergeant Tolputt, of the Irish Rifles, and printed by Mr E. W. Meers [sic]. They consist of a general view of the camp, a parade of the infantry companies, the Engineers' flying bridge over the Heathcote river, and the camp kitchen of the Irish Rifles. All are good pictures, and the set forms an interesting memento of the Easter Encampment of 1890.

Star, Issue 6834, 23 April 1890

141 Manchester Street, Christchurch
1891-1892

Artistic.— There is now on view at the studio of Mr Tolputt, Manchester street [Christchurch], some very excellent specimens of opalette photography. By this process the pictures are produced with a beautifully soft appearance, whilst all the sharpness and life of an ordinary photograph is preserved. Mr Tolputt has also some very pretty carbon photographs on china, &c., which are well worth seeing.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8016, 10 November 1891

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8042, 10 December 1891

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9607, 28 December 1891

above cabinet card courtesy of The Laurence Eagle Collection

Rangiora

1895 - 1909

Tolputt, T. S., Photographer, North Canterbury Studio, Rangiora. This studio was established in 1895, and has been carried on up to the present time. The premises are built of wood, and have a large showroom in front with workrooms behind, and the studio and waiting-rooms upstairs. Mr. Tolputt undertakes every description of photographic work, including enlargements, and all up-to-date styles of portraiture.

He served an apprenticeship in England, with the firm of Lambert Weston and Son (photographers to the Queen), Kent. In 1883 he came to New Zealand, and was in Christchurch for ten years, four of which were spent in the employment of the late Mr. P. Schourup.

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District] 1903
© 2008 Victoria University of Wellington