Early 20th-century tree photographs republished in new book

A newly curated edition of 'The Trees of Great Britain and Ireland' by Henry John Elwes and Augustine Henry showcases more than 60 images from their original seven-volume collection (1906–1913). These photographs, primarily taken by anonymous photographers, were produced by the Autotype Company through a collotype technique. The volume features an introduction by Michael Pritchard, the former chief executive of the Royal Photographic Society, along with commentary from photographic historian Björn Andersson. Set to be released by RRB Photobooks on 1 December 2025, this 128-page book is priced at £35. The initial endeavor sought to document all trees found naturally or cultivated in Great Britain and Ireland, including over 400 images and descriptions of more than 500 species. The photographs foreshadow later works by notable artists such as Sebastião Salgado, Cesare Leonardi and Franca Stagi, David Hockney, and Tacita Dean. This publication emerges at a time when ancient woodlands constitute less than 3% of the UK's land area, as reported by the Woodland Trust.