Apprentice’s cod image fetches high price at auction

Unless you count the Press & Journal staff photographer who accompanied me to the London Olympics, the only Aberdeen photographer known to me is the great George Washington Wilson – renowned, of course, for thousands of high-quality images of Victorian Scotland (now available online thanks to Aberdeen University).

Today’s extraordinary illustration – titled “Giant Cod” – is a carbon print by one of Wilson’s apprentices, John MacMahon, who ran various photographic studios at different addresses in Aberdeen and nearby either side of 1900.

MacMahon had learned his trade as a lithographer with Wilson and had also worked with the Autotype Company of London.

The 28inx20in image was grandly titled “Giant Cod: Specimens Landed at Aberdeen, March 1908. Average Weight 77lbs. Bought and Cured by A. & M. Smith, Ltd, Exporters of Salt Fish”.

The inscription was repeated in Spanish, suggesting the fish were destined for export to Spain, with the photograph presumably intended for display by the Spanish importer.

The image shows a young dockworker at Albert Quay nonchalantly carrying almost his own weight in cod, with another ten or so of the giant fish hung up in front of Smith’s boxes.

Today’s cod weigh around a quarter of these monsters.

The picture dates to 1908 when the development (sorry!) of many portable cameras allowed photography to be taken out of the studio, especially by innovative amateurs.

“Giant Cod” appeared at Bonham’s fine books and manuscripts sale in London on March 21, where the 110-year-old image landed a bid of £1,800, or £2,250 inclusive of premium.