Figure 1.-- Here we have an image of a Scottish boy, although we are not sure if it is a photograph or drawing. It looks more like a drawing. The boy is apparently Edward Roper Yerbury. We have no information about him. Click on the image to see Edward wearing a sailor suit.

Here we have an image of a Scottish boy, although we are not sure if it is a photograph or drawing. It looks more like a drawing. The boy is apparently Edward Roper Yerbury. We have no information about him. The image looks rather like an advertisement, or perhaps a novelty postcard. But this appears to be because his father was a famous Scottish photographer. The boy was apparently born in in 1915 which would mke him 3 years old here. He looks to be 4-5 years old. He is pictured shining shoes. One interesting aspect of the photograph is that the boy is wearing closed-toe sandals. This is one of the earliest Scottish images we have of a boy wearing sandals as a kind of casual footwear. We do have earlier images of Scottish boys wearing strap shoes as dress footwear, but here the boy is depicted in casual clothing. Also notice the suspenders (braces) used to hold up his trousers. Having a boy shine shoes dressed in white shorts seems rather strange, but that is what Edward is doing. We have a more traditional family portrait of Edward taken a few years later, about 1920. It shows three generations of Yerburys. Edward is seen with his his father and grandfather also named Edward Roper. Edward has his hair cut shorter and wears a smart white sailor suit (click on figure 1).

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Created: 7:06 PM 3/12/2005
Last edited: 7:06 PM 3/12/2005