I came across these glass-plate negatives in some photo-related stuff I bought on eBay recently. I have no idea where these photos were taken, or when. I believe that they were taken in England, and perhaps sometime around the turn of the 20th Century.

Well, here are some fine swans a-swimming. Looks like a zoo of some kind? Sort of ugly, frankly. If all the photos had been this quality, I would have quit scanning.

Nice sailboat - looks like a beach outing?

Nice shot of this bridge (these bridges)? I can't really tell. I'll say one thing, though. I was amazed at the quality of the negative - I scanned this at 600 dpi and at 1:1, the detail on every little brick was incredible!

Now THIS, my friends, is interesting. At first glance, it appears to be a photo of a woman smoking a cigarette. But hang on a moment. Wasn't sufferage still some time off at the time of this photo? Wasn't the idea of a woman smoking a cigarette somewhat scandalous? Or have I seen too many cigarette ads in magazines growing up?

OK, now, what's she smoking? That looks very lumpy, even for a hand-rolled smoke. And what a tick - is that a man? Good Lord, Victorian cross-dressers! What a world!

A bucolic scene. Anyone recognize that seashore or the (I'm guessing) hotels beyond?

Hello, what's this? A lovely young lady, just teasing with the latest in daring swimwear.

Oh, this is one lucky sailor! I guess there may be another man present - making the photo. But hooray!

Here is our young lady again, this time at the seashore.

A proper young lady, no doubt!