Frith, Francis, albumen print, c.1880, mounted on period card from Frith's 'Universal Series' the image titled 'No.1 Locomotive and Tender, Darlington Railway Station' Printed & Published by F. Frith Reigate', the image shows George Stephenson's Locomotion No. 1, positioned on a plinth in Darlington, County Durham. The initials "S & D R" represent the Stockton and Darlington Railway, which commissioned Stephenson's company to construct Britain's first steam locomotive designed to carry passengers in 1825. Locomotion No. 1 underwent restoration in 1857 and was displayed at Alfred Kitching's workshop near North Road Station for many years. Later, it was relocated to Darlington's Bank Top mainline station, where it stayed until 1975. The photograph seems to depict the locomotive in its original setting, image 20.5cm x 15.8cm card 37cm x 29cm

Francis Frith (1822–1898) was a pioneering British photographer known for his extensive documentation of landscapes, architecture, and landmarks across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Initially a successful grocer, Frith turned to photography in the 1850s, becoming a key figure in early travel photography.

In 1856, Frith embarked on a series of ambitious trips to Egypt, Palestine, and Syria, where he captured the region’s ancient monuments and everyday life. His work is noted for its technical precision and clarity, achieved by using large-format cameras and wet collodion plates under challenging conditions. Frith's images of the pyramids, temples, and biblical sites not only provided Western audiences with a rare visual glimpse of distant lands but also played a significant role in shaping Victorian perspectives on the East.

Frith founded the company Francis Frith & Co. in 1859, which became one of the largest photographic archives of the time. He systematically documented towns, cities, and rural landscapes across Britain, producing images for postcards and albums, making photography accessible to a broader public.