Photographic Collections
The Royal Asiatic Society has almost 100 different collections of photographs, containing several thousand images, dating back to the middle of the nineteenth century. The Society’s photographic collections are a valuable source of information about the cultural and physical heritage of many different parts of Asia. But they’re also useful for understanding the history of photography itself. These pages contain a small selection of the Society’s photographic holdings.
[Photo.35/(005)] Aihole, Bijapur district. Old Durga Temple
General view of Durga Temple, Aihole, Bijapur district. Photograph by James Burgess, published in 1874. This image also appears as…
[Photo.35/(006)] The great Gun, 1100 years old, Bijapur
The 1100 years old great Gun, Bijapur. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly material…
[Photo.35/(007)] Daulatabad, Nizam’s Territory: minaret
Photograph of a minaret in Daulatabad, Nizam’s Territory. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly…
[Photo.35/(008)] General view from Fort, Daulatabad
General view from Fort, Daulatabad. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly material taken or…
[Photo.35/(009)] Bijapur
General view of Fort, Bijapur. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly material taken or…
[Photo.35/(010)] Bijapur. General view showing Chore Goomuj on left and Sheikh Raza on right in distance
General view of showing Chore Goomuj on left and Sheikh Raza on right in distance, Bijapur. Part of a collection…
[Photo.35/(011)] Champa Baoli, Handas
Champa Baoli, Handas. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly material taken or commissioned by…
[Photo.35/(012)] Bijapur. General view shewing one of the bastions
General view showing one of the bastions in Bijapur. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects,…
[Photo.35/(013)] Jooma Musjid in Fort, Bijapur
Photograph of Jooma Musjid in Fort, Bijapur. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly material…
[Photo.35/(014)] Madrasa of Mahmud Gawan (?)
Possibly a photograph of the Madrasa of Mahmud Gawan. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects,…
[Photo.35/(015)] General view. Goomuji’s Bund on Neemaji
General view of Goomuji’s Bund on Neemaji. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly material…
[Photo.35/(016)] Mosque at Begampura, between Shalamar and Lahore
View of Mosque at Begampura, between Shalamar and Lahore. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects,…
[Photo.35/(017)] The Masjid of Hakim Ali-ud-Din Wazir Khan, Lahore
The Masjid of Hakim Ali-ud-Din Wazir Khan, Lahore. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly…
[Photo.35/(018)] Tomb of Sultan Begam, between Shalamar and the City of Lahore
Photograph of the tomb of Sultan Begam, between Shalamar and the City of Lahore. Part of a collection of 64…
[Photo.35/(019)] Tomb of Hazrat Aishar near Begampura, between Shalamar and the City of Lahore
Photograph of the tomb of Hazrat Aishar near Begampura, between Shalamar and the City of Lahore. Part of a collection…
[Photo.35/(020)] The Gateway of the Galabi Bagh, on the road from Shalamar to the City of Lahore
Photograph of the Gateway of the Galabi Bagh, on the road from Shalamar to the City of Lahore. Part of…
[Photo.35/(021)] Courtyard of the Qutb, Delhi
Photograph of the courtyard of the Qutb, Delhi. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly…
[Photo.35/(022)] Tomb of Sheikh Musa, known as Subz Gumbad
Phototgraph of the tomb of Sheikh Musa, known as Subz Gumbad. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of…
[Photo.35/(023)] Great Temple, Patna
Photograph of the Great Temple, Patna. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly material taken…
[Photo.35/(024)] Patna. Temple near the Jaina Temple
Photograph of a temple near the Jaina Temple, Patna. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects,…
[Photo.35/(028)] Temple of Ahalya Bai, Mukesar on the Nerbudda
Photograph of the Temple of Ahalya Bai, Mukesar on the Nerbudda. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of…
[Photo.35/(029)] Temple at Garaspar
Temple at Garaspar photographed by James Waterhouse. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly material taken…
[Photo.35/(030)] Ghat at Mukesar on the Nerbudda
Photograph of a ghat at Mukesar on the Nerbudda. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects,…
[Photo.35/(031)] Bamini Temple, Pathari, Central India. Old Jaina Temple
Photograph of Bamini Temple, old Jaina Temple, in Pathari, Central India. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of…
[Photo.35/(033)] Pathari, Central India. Porch of Gurrulmukh Temple, 1862
The porch of Gurrulmukh (Gadarmal) Temple, Pathari, Central India, in 1862. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of…
[Photo.35/(034)] Pathari, Central India. Image in shrine of the old Gadarmal Temple
Image in shrine of the old Gadarmal Temple in Pathari, Central India. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints…
[Photo.35/(035)] Pathari, Central India. Gadarmal Temple, 1862
Gadarmal Temple in Pathari, Central India, photographed in 1862. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects,…
[Photo.35/(036)] Loose stone near Mandapeswar
A loose stone fragment of an Indic religious image near Mandapeswar. For another copy see Photo.35/(041). Part of a collection…
[Photo.35/(037)] Mehkar, Berar. Temple ruin.
Temple ruin, Mehkar, Berar. Photographed by Robert Gill and published in 1868-1869. For another copy see British Library, OIOC Photo…
[Photo.35/(038)] Berar. Ruins of old temple at Mehkar
The ruins of an old temple at Mehkar, Berar. Photographed by Robert Gill and published in 1868-1869. For another copy,…
[Photo.35/(039)] Berar. Lonar on left side of ghat to lake near bottom
Berar, Lonar – on left side of ghat to lake near the bottom. Photographed by Robert Gill and published in…
[Photo.35/(040)] Lonar, Berar. Ruined buildings
Ruined buildings at lake Lonar, Berar. Photographed by Robert Gill and published in 1868-1869. For another copy, see British Library…
[Photo.35/(041)] Indic religious image on stone fragment near Mandapeswar
A loose stone fragment of an Indic religious image near Mandapeswar. For another copy see Photo.35/(036). Part of a collection…
[Photo.35/(042)] Indic religious image on stone fragment
A stone fragment of an Indic religious image. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly…
[Photo.35/(043)] Burmese pagoda
This photograph of a Burmese pagoda includes chinthes (Burmese temple guardian figures). Part of a collection of 64 loose prints…
[Photo.35/(044)] Bupaya Pagoda
This photograph of Bupaya Pagoda has a note on the reverse which reads, ‘Pumpkinlike Pagoda at Pagan’. Part of a…
[Photo.35/(045)] Buddhist monastery with Buddhist monks, Mandalay
A photograph of a Buddhist monastery with Buddhist monks in the foreground, Mandalay. Part of a collection of 64 loose…
[Photo.35/(046)] Burmese Pagoda
A photograph of a Burmese Pagoda. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly material taken…
[Photo.35/(047)] Temple at Bhilsa
A photograph of a temple at Bhilsa. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly material…
[Photo.35/(048)] Sitting stone figure (Buddha ?)
A photograph of a sitting stone figure ( perhaps Buddha). There is a note on the reverse of the photograph,…
[Photo.35/(049)] Jaina image at Anigall
The caption on the reverse of the photograph states that this is a Jaina image at Anigall. Part of a…
[Photo.35/(050)] Saptamatri
A photograph of a Saptamatri (Seven Mothers) stone carvings. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects,…
[Photo.35/(051)] Ahmadabad
Architectural detail photographed in Ahmadabad. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly material taken or…
[Photo.35/(052)] Jaina image at Balagavili (?)
Photograph of a Jaina image possibly at Balagavili (now Belgaum or Belagavi). Part of a collection of 64 loose prints…
[Photo.35/(053)] Ahmadabad, Jami Masjid
Photograph of Jami Masjid (literally Friday Mosque) in Ahmadabad. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects,…
[Photo.35/(054)] Puri, Orissa, Black Pagoda, Konarak (?)
Puri, Orissa, Black Pagoda, Konarak (?). General view of the Surya Temple with mound of earth and rubble in foreground. This…
[Photo.35/(055)] Puri, Orissa, Black Pagoda, Konarak (?)
Puri, Orissa, Black Pagoda, Konarak (?). General view of the Surya Temple. This is almost, but not quite identical to the…
[Photo.35/(056)] Doorway with ornate arch featuring writing in Arabic script
Doorway with ornate arch featuring writing in Arabic script. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects,…
[Photo.35/(057)] Portrait photograph of two Indian men, one standing and one sitting, in an ornate stone interior
Portrait photograph of two Indian men, one standing and one sitting, in an ornate stone interior. Part of a collection…
[Photo.35/(058)] Stone statue of Indic religious figure
Stone statue of Indic religious figure. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly material taken…
[Photo.35/(059)] Stonework featuring writing in Arabic script
Stonework featuring writing in Arabic scrip. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly material taken…
[Photo.35/(060)] Ruined building (temple?)
Ruined building which might have been a temple. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly…
[Photo.35/(061)] Stone entranceway with carved pillars
Stone entranceway with carved pillar. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly material taken or…
[Photo.35/(062)] Rock-cut stonework above standing water
Rock-cut stonework above standing water. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly material taken or…
[Photo.35/(064)] Stone fragments of temple (?) iconography
Stone fragments of temple (?) iconography. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly material taken…
[Photo.35/(065)] View of temple (?) building complex
View of temple (?) building complex. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly material taken…
[Photo.35/(066)] Arrangement of ornate knives (?)
Arrangement of ornate knives. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly material taken or commissioned…
[Photo.35/(067)] Stone fragment featuring carved human figures
Stone fragment featuring carved human figure. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly material taken…
[Photo.35/(068)] View of a temple building with two Indian men in front
View of a temple building with two Indian men in front. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of…
[Photo.35/(069)] View of a low stone building with carved pillars
View of a low stone building with carved pillars. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects,…
[Photo.35/(088)] Head and shoulders image of Indic religious figure
Photograph of a head and shoulders image of Indic religious figure. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of…
[Photo.35/(089)] Stone fragments depicting religious (?) figures
Photograph of stone fragments depicting religious (?) figures. Part of a collection of 64 loose prints of archaeological subjects, mainly…
[Photo.49/(001)] Davala, 24 years old
From a collection of photographs commissioned by Prince Roland Bonaparte in Paris. They were taken at the Jardin Zoologique d’Acclimatation…
[Photo.49/(001a)] Davala, 24 years old
From a collection of photographs commissioned by Prince Roland Bonaparte in Paris. They were taken at the Jardin Zoologique d’Acclimatation…
[Photo.49/(002)] Eurupschild, 35 years old
From a collection of photographs commissioned by Prince Roland Bonaparte in Paris. They were taken at the Jardin Zoologique d’Acclimatation…
[Photo.49/(002a)] Eurupschild, 35 years old
From a collection of photographs commissioned by Prince Roland Bonaparte in Paris. They were taken at the Jardin Zoologique d’Acclimatation…
[Photo.49/(003)] Boulgronn, 20 years old
From a collection of photographs commissioned by Prince Roland Bonaparte in Paris. They were taken at the Jardin Zoologique d’Acclimatation…
[Photo.49/(003a)] Boulgronn, 20 years old
From a collection of photographs commissioned by Prince Roland Bonaparte in Paris. They were taken at the Jardin Zoologique d’Acclimatation…
[Photo.49/(004)] Nagala, 18 years old
From a collection of photographs commissioned by Prince Roland Bonaparte in Paris. They were taken at the Jardin Zoologique d’Acclimatation…
[Photo.49/(004a)] Nagala, 18 years old
From a collection of photographs commissioned by Prince Roland Bonaparte in Paris. They were taken at the Jardin Zoologique d’Acclimatation…
[Photo.49/(005)] Kiski, 15 years old
From a collection of photographs commissioned by Prince Roland Bonaparte in Paris. They were taken at the Jardin Zoologique d’Acclimatation…
[Photo.49/(005a)] Kiski, 15 years old
From a collection of photographs commissioned by Prince Roland Bonaparte in Paris. They were taken at the Jardin Zoologique d’Acclimatation…
[Photo.49/(006)] Bolroh, 17 years old
From a collection of photographs commissioned by Prince Roland Bonaparte in Paris. They were taken at the Jardin Zoologique d’Acclimatation…
[Photo.49/(006a)] Bolroh, 17 years old
From a collection of photographs commissioned by Prince Roland Bonaparte in Paris. They were taken at the Jardin Zoologique d’Acclimatation…
[Photo.49/(006b)] Bolroh, 17 years old
From a collection of photographs commissioned by Prince Roland Bonaparte in Paris. They were taken at the Jardin Zoologique d’Acclimatation…
[Photo.49/(007)] Davala, 6 years old
From a collection of photographs commissioned by Prince Roland Bonaparte in Paris. They were taken at the Jardin Zoologique d’Acclimatation…
[Photo.49/(008)] Exterior view of a tent
From a collection of photographs commissioned by Prince Roland Bonaparte in Paris. They were taken at the Jardin Zoologique d’Acclimatation…
[Photo.49/(009)] Interior view of a tent
From a collection of photographs commissioned by Prince Roland Bonaparte in Paris. They were taken at the Jardin Zoologique d’Acclimatation…
[Photo.49/(010)] Interior view of a tent
From a collection of photographs commissioned by Prince Roland Bonaparte in Paris. They were taken at the Jardin Zoologique d’Acclimatation…
[Photo.49/(011)] Interior view of a tent
From a collection of photographs commissioned by Prince Roland Bonaparte in Paris. They were taken at the Jardin Zoologique d’Acclimatation…
[Photo.49/(012)] Troop of camels
From a collection of photographs commissioned by Prince Roland Bonaparte in Paris. They were taken at the Jardin Zoologique d’Acclimatation…
[Photo.53/(001)] Double line of walls erected around Ani
Stereoscopic views of the double line of walls erected around Ani by Achod III, the Merciful (964) and Sempad the…
[Photo.53/(002)] The lion relief next to the ‘Lion Gate’
Stereoscopic views of a carved lion, and on either side the ruins of two towers, on the front side of…
[Photo.53/(003)] Main Gate of the fortifications
Stereoscopic photographs of the main gate of the fortifications of Ani. Piles of ruins can be seen in front of…
[Photo.53/(004)] Rear of the Lion Gate and its towers
Stereoscopic photographs described as ‘Rear of the Lion Gate and its towers’. In the booklet accompanying the collection the description…
[Photo.53/(005)] The western end of the city’s walls
Stereoscopic photographs described as ‘The western end of the city’s walls’. In the booklet accompanying the collection the description reads,…
[Photo.53/(006)] What is left of the walls and towers of the same north gate
Stereoscopic photographs described as ‘The western end of the city’s walls’. In the booklet accompanying the collection the description reads,…
[Photo.53/(007)] Interior view of part of the fortifications extending from the north gate of Dzaghgotzatzor to the entry of the north-east gate
Stereoscopic photographs of the interior view of part of the fortifications built by Achod III, the Merciful (964) and Sempad…
[Photo.53/(008)] Front part of the Palace of Bagratides situated on a rock at Dzaghgotzatzor
Stereoscopic view described as ‘The entrance facade of the Baron’s palace’. The description in the booklet which accompanies the collection…
[Photo.53/(013)] View of Dzaghgotzatzor and caves through the breaches of the hall on the left of the palace
Stereoscopic photographs showing a view of Dzaghgotzatzor and the caves through the breaches of the hall on the left of…
[Photo.53/(014)] The walls of Ani dug out of the rock and caves of Dzaghgotzatzor
Stereoscopic photographs of the walls of Ani dug out of the rock and caves of Dzaghgotzatzor. [Translated from the French…
[Photo.53/(015)] Palace of Bahlavounis near the small church of the Apostles (after Brosset)
Stereoscopic photographs of the palace of Bahlavounis near the small church of the Apostles (after Brosset). In the distance the…
[Photo.53/(016)] Carved dome supported by four double vaults decorated with mosaics
Stereoscopic views of a carved dome supported by four double vaults decorated with mosaics. [Translated from the French original]. The…
[Photo.53/(017)] Mausoleums of Saint Gregory Aboughamrentz, of Gregory called the Prince of Princes and of the other Bahlavouni princes
Stereoscopic views of the Mausoleums of Saint Gregory Aboughamrentz, of Gregory called the Prince of Princes and of the other…
[Photo.53/(018)] View taken from the foot of the walls at the south of the citadel of the rocks which stretch out into the Achourian valley with the monastery built by Zachery
Stereoscopic photographs taken from the foot of the walls at the south of the citadel of the rocks which stretch…
[Photo.53/(019)] What is left of the same ruins in the Achourian valley and the historic rock of the cathedral
Stereoscopic photographs of the remains of the same ruins in the Achourian valley and the historic rock of the cathedral….
[Photo.53/(020)] A gateway and the remains of the burial place of the royal children
Stereoscopic photographs of a gateway and the remains of the burial place of the royal children.[Translated from the French original]….
[Photo.53/(021)] Hall of columns amongst the ruins of the Achourian Valley or the Hall of Parliament under the Bagratides
Stereoscopic photographs of a hall of columns amongst the ruins of the Achourian Valley or the Hall of Parliament under…
[Photo.53/(022)] Our Lady of Ani (south-east side)
Stereoscopic photographs of Our Lady of Ani (south-east side, started by Simpad II and finished by Queen Gudramittee (1010) after…
[Photo.53/(023)] The South West side of Our Lady and the redoubt constructed by the Bishop of Arghan
Stereoscopic photographs of the south-west side of Our Lady and the redoubt constructed by the Bishop of Arghan (1879). [Translated…