Your thoughts on these Hong Kong photos please

[portybelle]

Thank you - that is more or less what we thought so it is good to have 1890s confirmed as the likely time. If only they had left us evidence of what on earth they were doing out there!!

[Borley Manor]

Having their pictures taken perhaps....!!

 

[TheCostumer]

I have a similar Pun Lun cabinet card that dates exactly to the 1898 Spanish American War in which a long dead relative, Jerry "The Hero" Carroll served briefly.  It looks like it might be a very slightly revised version of yours (that is probably dating from just a few years before.)  Hope this helps.  Other Pun Lun cards I've seen on the net are all light colored backs from before or after these dark card styles. 

[portybelle]

Thanks for posting these photos TheCostumer and apologies for the delay in replying. Interesting to see another card from Pun Lun and to have a more specific date. Do you know for sure then that your ancestor was in Hong Kong and what they were doing there?

[chrisscales]

If you have ancestry.com , there is an Alexander Cameron who seems to have worked on foreign going ships at that time. Says born 20 May 1875 in Mull, Argyleshire - does that fit? He was eventually made 'Master of a Foreign-going Steamship' in 1902 after various promotions. The record set is: UK and Ireland, Masters and Mates Certificates, 1850-1927.

Not sure if it's relevant, but below is a Cameron family seemingly travelling back from Shanghai to London (and onto St Andrews) in 1926 - perhaps there is a connection?

[portybelle]

Thanks for that Chrisscales but sadly not my lot. The mystery remains!