James Valentine (12 June 1815 – 19 June 1879) was a Scottish photographer. Valentine's of Dundee produced Scottish topographical views from the 1860s, and later became internationally famous as the producers of picture postcards.
Contents
Early life
James Valentine was born on 12 June 1815 in Dundee, the second of the five children of John Valentine (1792–1868), linen weaver, and his wife, Mary Valentine née Watson (1790–1866).
Valentine studied photography at the University of St Andrews where he became an acquaintance of Thomas Rodger, who probably photographed him around 1850.
Career
In 1850 Valentine was printing publicity material for the "ocean penny postage" campaign of the activist Elihu Burritt. The business Valentine & Sons Ltd was founded in Dundee in 1851 by Valentine. He added portrait photography to the activities of his established Dundee business, which had been based up to 1851 on the engraving, printing and supply of business stationery. In 1855, he erected one of the largest photographic glasshouses in Britain.