David Bellis Archives - Blacksmith Books

David Bellis loves putting old Hong Kong photographs under the magnifying glass to uncover their hidden secrets and discover their stories. He shares what he finds through his website, his books, and a series of illustrated talks.

His website, www.Gwulo.com, hosts a lively community of people who are interested in Hong Kong’s history. It is also a valuable historical resource in its own right, hosting over 50,000 pages, including over 30,000 photos.

You can sign up for David’s free weekly e-mail newsletter at www.Gwulo.com/subscribe or get notified of new issues via Twitter @Gwulo or Facebook.com/Gwulo

David is originally from Wales, first visited Hong Kong in 1989, and has lived there since 1992. He hated history lessons at school and studied computer science. But apart from the odd bit of computer programming to keep the website running, he now spends most of his time writing about history. It’s a funny old life!

Volume 1: Old Hong Kong Photos and The Tales They Tell

HK$168.00
USD: US$21.51
CNY: CN¥155.74
GBP: £16.84
EUR: €19.80
AUD: AU$32.33
CAD: CA$29.34
JPY: ¥3,380
Not your typical photo book!

David Bellis, founder of the popular local history website Gwulo, shows you a selection of his favourite photos of old Hong Kong. So far, so familiar.

But then he takes you on a deep dive to discover and understand the photos’ most minute and revealing details. Plague-ridden rats, flapper hats, and chocolates are just a few of the surprising clues you’ll investigate. Finally, David helps you piece the clues together to uncover the photos’ hidden stories.

Part of a five-volume series; to see the other books, click here.

Add to basket Details
Volume 2: Old Hong Kong Photos and The Tales They Tell

HK$168.00
USD: US$21.51
CNY: CN¥155.74
GBP: £16.84
EUR: €19.80
AUD: AU$32.33
CAD: CA$29.34
JPY: ¥3,380
Not your typical photo book!

David Bellis puts more of his favourite old Hong Kong photos under the magnifying glass, revealing the photos’ secrets, and uncovering their hidden stories. Flying Italian miners, and the most beautiful woman you’ll never see are just two of the surprises in store for you.

David runs the popular local history website Gwulo, home to over 15,000 photographs of old Hong Kong.

Part of a five-volume series; to see the other books, click here.

Add to basket Details
Volume 3: Old Hong Kong Photos and The Tales They Tell

HK$168.00
USD: US$21.51
CNY: CN¥155.74
GBP: £16.84
EUR: €19.80
AUD: AU$32.33
CAD: CA$29.34
JPY: ¥3,380
Not your typical photo book!

Grab your flippers, mask, and magnifying glass – Volume 3 is full of old photos of people in, on, under, and around Hong Kong’s famous Victoria Harbour. Many of the photos are published for the first time, and although they’re old, they are sharp and packed with detail. So join David Bellis in uncovering the photos’ secrets, deciphering their stories, and meeting the people of old Hong Kong.

David runs the award-winning local history website Gwulo, home to over 20,000 photos of old Hong Kong.

Part of a five-volume series; to see the other books, click here.

Add to basket Details
Volume 4: Old Hong Kong Photos and The Tales They Tell

HK$168.00
USD: US$21.51
CNY: CN¥155.74
GBP: £16.84
EUR: €19.80
AUD: AU$32.33
CAD: CA$29.34
JPY: ¥3,380
Not your typical photo book!

Revisit old Hong Kong through this book’s collection of rare photos, many of them over 100 years old. Then join David to explore the photos’ details, and so discover their hidden stories: the women who toiled up the Peak’s slopes each day, carrying heavy loads of bricks and coal on their shoulders, buried treasure still waiting to be found, Kowloon’s vanishing hills, and many more.

David runs the award-winning local history website Gwulo, home to over 25,000 photos of old Hong Kong.

Part of a five-volume series; to see the other books, click here.

Add to basket Details
Volume 5: Old Hong Kong Photos and The Tales They Tell

HK$168.00
USD: US$21.51
CNY: CN¥155.74
GBP: £16.84
EUR: €19.80
AUD: AU$32.33
CAD: CA$29.34
JPY: ¥3,380
Not your typical photo book!

Meet the people of old Hong Kong through these rare photos, dating from the 1950s right back to the 1880s. There are cobblers, conjurors, compradores, croquet players, soldiers, sailors, Scottish golfers, hawkers, a Hungarian motorcyclist, and more! Who among them called Hong Kong ‘home’? Join David Bellis to find out, as he uncovers clues in the photos’ details that reveal each person’s story.

David runs Gwulo.com, the award-winning local history website with over 30,000 photos of old Hong Kong.

Part of a five-volume series; to see the other books, click here.

Add to basket Details

Volume 1: Old Hong Kong Photos and The Tales They Tell

Volume 2: Old Hong Kong Photos and The Tales They Tell

Volume 3: Old Hong Kong Photos and The Tales They Tell

Volume 4: Old Hong Kong Photos and The Tales They Tell

Volume 5: Old Hong Kong Photos and The Tales They Tell

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