Early Photography of China Collection: A highly important collection in development.. Various places, 1850s-1930s

The most valuable collection of early China photography in private hands, the Early Photography of China Collection includes the greatest masterworks of China photography by the foremost photographers working in China in the nineteenth century and the first quarter of the 20th century. The collection has been assembled over the course of many years, and we continue to expand and refine it as worthy photographs and archives become available. This collection, unrivaled in quality and extent in private hands, provides a unique opportunity to own one of the greatest collections of Chinese photography extant. We are eager to acquire important China photographs, from individual objects to albums and collections. We invite you to contact us.

Collection in development

Lover’s Leap from Foochow and the River Min. London: Printed by the Autotype Fine Arts Company, 1873

This is a magnificent photograph from John Thomson’s legendary Foochow and the River Min. Thomson is the greatest single figure in nineteenth-century photography in China.

$45,000

The Temple Mount, Jerusalem. Jerusalem, 1857

This landmark two-part view of the Temple Mount is one of the very earliest multi-part panoramic photographs of Jerusalem.

$25,000

King of Siam’s State Barge. Bangkok, c. 1865

This is a magnificent two-panel view of the king’s barge on the water, with dozens of oarsmen ready to put their paddles in to the water. The king’s ornate covered throne is at the rear of the vessel. The riverbank in the background is crowded with low thatched roof buildings.

$15,000

Panoramic Photograph of Cairo.. Cairo, 1870s

This splendid and unusually large panoramic photograph

$8,500

White Elephant of the King. Siam, 1865

This remarkable photograph shows “one of twelve white elephants belonging to King Mongkut. The ‘white’ elephants are really reddish-brown with pale eyelashes and toenails. Male white elephants were regarded with high esteem and were adorned with elaborate costumes. The photograph shows the mahout, wearing a distinctive conical hat, training the elephant to kneel; he is using an elephant control stick with a hook (an ankusa). A boy stands by the head of the elephant, several other elephant carers sit on the right with ropes and a parasol, and a large group of onlookers sit on the left. The walls of the Grand Palace are seen behind” (Wellcome Institute Library).

Please inquire

Two photographs: Kutub Minar & Great Arch. Delhi, c. 1866. [and] Great Arch and Iron Pillar. Delhi, 1866

This is a splendid pair of Samuel Bourne views of the Qutb complex in Delhi.

$2,800

Angkor Wat. Angkor, c. 1866-1873

A splendid view of Angkor Wat with deep, rich tones. Émile Gsell accompanied de Lagrée on his expedition to Angkor, where he made a series of dramatic photographs only a few months after John Thomson’s expedition. The French photographer Gsell became the first commercial photographer based in Saigon in 1866. He returned to Angkor in 1873 with the famous expedition led by Louis Delaporte.

$2,200

Photograph signed by Carter and Begin. Robert A. Cumins, 1979

Signed by Carter and Begin. Menachem Begin was awarded the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize, together with Anwar Sadat, “for their work in laying a foundation for future peace” in the Middle East. The framework, reached at Camp David, was facilitated by Jimmy Carter. The Nobel award called Carter “the masterbuilder responsible for the bridge that had to be built between Egypt and Israel.”

$2,200

Vietnamese Musicians. Saigon, c. late 1860s

The French photographer Émile Gsell became the first commercial photographer based in Saigon following his first expedition to photograph Angkor in 1866.

$1,500