'Helmsman on the stern of a ‘laung-zat’ or paddy boat on the Irrawaddy, Burma, late 1880s

The first major photography exhibition hosted by The British Library, this selection brings forth may gems of early photography. The curator is John Falconer, longtime dean of early research into Indian photography.

Among the selection are the this photograph by the important Burma photographer Philip Klier, who supplied many of the early images of the country. There are also works by Samuel Bourne like the iconic Manirung Pass image below, probably on most lists of the finest 19th century photographs taken anywhere.

The online portion of the exhibition explores the wide themes of early photography in Britain which helps give Raj photography a much deeper context.

-- From the library's website:

Explore eight themes of 19th-century life

Read comments by, Jane Bown, John Berger, Sarah Waters, Geoff Dyer, Brian May & Elena Vidal and Jeremy Paxman

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