C S Rolls standing beside a 20 hp Panhard motor car, 1903

Photograph taken from an album of prints collected by English motorist, motor car manufacturer and aviator Charles Stewart Rolls (1877-1910). Rolls was a keen driver and was well known in the car world, taking part in many races of the time, such as the 1000 Mile Trial (1900) and the 15,000 Mile Trial (1907). He founded Rolls-Royce Ltd with Sir Frederick Henry Royce (1863-1933) in 1906, creating one of the world's most famous marques. Prior to forming the company, Rolls asembled and sold imported French cars from showrooms in London. He was also a keen aviator and was the first to make a non-stop double crosing of the English Channel in an aeroplane.