Photographic album of Rangoon, circa 1896

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Summary

Creators:

Beato, Felice, 1832-1909, American Baptist Mission Press (Burma), and Watts & Skeen

Abstract:

Photographic album of Rangoon contains 47 cyanotype views of businesses in Rangoon, each paired with a full-page advertisement on the opposing page. Businesses depicted include general outfitters; provisioners; haberdashers; boot, shoe and saddle makers; purveyors of wine and spirits; chemists; tobacconists; sellers of pianos and other musical instruments; stationers, booksellers and publishers; banks; and coach works. A few views of local monuments, sites, and government buildings are also present. These include the post office; government house; the public buildings; the Cantonment Garden; and the Shwedagon Pagoda.

Extent:

1 Linear Feet (1 album)

Language:

Collection material is in English.

Preferred citation:

Photographic album of Rangoon, ca. 1896, The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, Accession no. 2018.R.6.

http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2018r6

Background

Scope and content:

Photographic album of Rangoon contains 47 cyanotype views of businesses, government buildings, and local monuments in Rangoon and Mandalay. Each photograph is paired with a full-page advertisement on the opposing page. Views of the businesses are either of the building exteriors or of the shop interiors; some businesses are represented by both. Businesses depicted include general outfitters; provisioners; haberdashers; boot, shoe and saddle makers; purveyors of wine and spirits; chemists; tobacconists; sellers of pianos and other musical instruments; stationers, booksellers and publishers; banks; and coach works. Among the businesses depicted are the photography studio and supplier of photographic goods, Watt & Skeen, and the American Baptist Mission Press, a printing, publishing and stationery house run by the American Baptist Mission. Also included is the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company, represented by a view of its steamer. While the accompanying advertisements often list businesses as having establishments in both Rangoon and Mandalay, all but a few of the views depict Rangoon locations.

In addition to business establishments, a few views of local monuments, sites and government buildings are present. These include the post office; government house; the public buildings; the Cantonment Garden; and the Shwedagon Pagoda, and the palace at Mandalay. Opposing these photographs are advertisements for business establishments not depicted in the album. Of particular note is a half-page advertisement for the photographer Felice Beato's decorative arts business, with stores in both Rangoon and Mandalay, declaring that Signor F. Beato is a dealer in "Burmese carved work, silverware, embroideries, handmade washing silks, curios, old arms; ivory carvings, etc."

The title on the album's title page reads in full: Photographic Album of Rangoon, Comprising the Leading Business Houses, and Views of the City and Mandalay. The title on the front cover reads: Photographic Album of Rangoon and Mandalay.

The album is bound in blue cloth with the title in gilt on the front cover. A binder's ticket on the rear paste-down reads: Bound at the / American Baptist Mission / Press. Rangoon.

Acquisition information:

Acquired in 2018.

Processing information:

The finding aid was written by Beth Ann Guynn in 2018.

Arrangement:

Arranged in a single series: Series I. Photographic album of Rangoon, ca. 1896.

Physical location:

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Rules or conventions: