The primary photographer for the present album -- for images initialed "E.T." -- was probably Edward Tothill (1793-1878), physician of Staines, Middlesex. The same Edward Tothill also lived ca. 1855-1860 in North Berwick, Scotland, from which place he wrote several letters to contemporary photographic magazines. In 1856, a letter from Tothill appears in Photographic notes (v. 1, pages 144-145), in which he describes his experiments with albumenized negative paper. The Photographic news of April 5, 1860 (v. III, pages 377-378) includes a letter from Tothill describing his thoughts on the "photographic paradox of Mr. C.J. Busk" (on contact printing?).

The remaining photographs -- those initialed "W.T." -- are probably by Edward Tothill's nephew, William Tothill (1819-1906). The photographs include depictions of William Tothill's father, William (1783-1875), his siblings Rebecca Mary and Francis (1823-1900), and niece Mary Darby Tothill (1851-1892). William Junior is also depicted. The "A.L. Tothill," whose autograph appears on the title page, is probably Ann Loftus Tothill (1849-1929), another niece of William.

Album of 43 photographs including portraits of the Tothill family, A. Russell, and J. G. Reynolds, along with views of local places of interest. Among the views are depictions of a ship at Bristol Harbour, "Howcroft" (a villa"), and rural scenes in and around Bristol, Somerset, and Gloucestershire, including St. Vincent's Rocks before the Clifton suspension bridge was completed, Laverton, Yatton Church, Didbrook, Combe, Buckland, Stoke Bishop (the school house and the newly erected church on the Sneyd Park Estate before the tower and spire were added in 1871), the Sneyd Park Rifle Range, and Glastonbury Abbey. With one view of Glen Esk in Scotland. The majority of images are captioned in ink with the name of the place or sitter. Many bear the initials of the photographer ("E.T." or less often "W.T.") and the date.

The prints vary in size: 22 are around 12 x 15 cm, one of these with an arched top. The remaining 21 (portraits) are in a format approximating cartes de visite, or a little larger (of which nine are mounted as cartes).

Includes a decorative title page printed in gilt with an ivy-clad bough. The title page bears the signature of "A. L. Tothill."

Include a later photomechanical reproduction of a view of S. Mary Magdalene Stoke Bishop, loosely inserted for comparison with an earlier view in the album.

Portraits.

Photographs.

Albumen prints.

Cartes-de-visite (card photographs)

Photograph albums.