Original carte de visite photograph of the author of The Wind in the Willows

(London: Frederick Hollyer, 1890s. The photograph is slightly rubbed in the upper right-hand corner, otherwise it is in very good condition.. Signed on the matte: "Yours faithfully Kenneth Grahame". The most widely reproduced portraits of the author, on the back of the carte de visite is the photographer's notation: "Fred Hollyer, 9 Pembroke Sqre, Kensington W, Copyright Registered". Frederick Hollyer [1838-1933] was well known for his portraits of literary figures, and this particular image is represented in numerous collections including the V & A. The Wind in the Willows was published in 1908, but at the time this picture was taken some time during the 1890s, Grahame was known for Pagan Papers (1893), The Golden Age (1895), Dream Days (1898) and The Headswoman (1898). Grahame worked most of his life at the Bank of England. The photograph is slightly rubbed in the upper right-hand corner, otherwise it is in very good condition.