Overview
In the time before newspapers published photos, portraits of well-known figures were common in carte-de-visite (calling card) format.
One of the most popular subjects in the 1860s was the charismatic soldier, adventurer, and artist, Major Gustavus Ferdinand von Tempsky.
His flamboyant personality and reputation as a maverick during the New Zealand Wars made him a folk hero. Images of von Tempsky were so sought after for carte-de-visite albums that photographers couldn’t keep up with demand.