Oblong Quarto album (ca. 24,5 x 15,7 cm or 9 ¾x 6¼ in). 34 paper leaves. With 34 mounted and one loosely inserted original gelatin silver photos, all ca. 13 x 17,5 cm (5 x 7 in). All but one mounted photos with period ink captions in French on the mounts; manuscript ink title, date and the owner’s name on the first leaf. Period black quarter morocco album with black pebbled papered boards; gilt-lettered title “Album” on the front board. Binding rubbed and with minor tears or losses on extremities, rear board with some losses of the paper, spine restored on hinges, a few photos mildly faded, but overall a very good album of interesting photos.

Historically significant collection of early original images of Phnom Penh and French colonial Cambodia, with several important photos of the original Royal Palace compound, built during the reign of King Norodom (in 1866-1870) and largely demolished and rebuilt in 1912-1932. The Palace photos include views of the Napoleon Pavilion, King Norodom’s quarters, the Royal Pagoda, Chan Chhaya Pavilion, and a bastion of the outer wall (later removed). An interesting image shows the Palace under construction with wooden scaffolding (the same photo is on Wikipedia). There is also a photo of a procession of “enfants de Norodom” on the Palace grounds. Other images of Phnom Penh show the newly-constructed Pont de Verneville (demolished in the 1930s), the Treasury Bridge decorated with sculptures of Nagas, Wat Phnom Temple, a market near the Palace, and city mansions and pagodas. Two photos show the scenes of the regatta, which took place in Phnom Penh during the 14th of July celebration in 1897. Other images include individual and group portraits of Cambodian musicians, singers, Buddhist monks, workers, prisoners, women and children, &c. Overall an interesting collection of well-preserved early photos of Phnom Penh and French colonial Cambodia in the late 19th century.

A list of captions: Bonzes Cambodiens; Pnom Penh – Pont sur la Route de l’Inspection; Pnom Penh – Pagode dans l’enceinte des Palais; Pnom Penh – Pagode chinois; Pnom Penh, maison Cambodgienne; Pnom Penh, village Cambodgien; Pnom Penh, marché près du Palais; Pnom Penh – 14 Juillet 1897 régates sur le «Mekong»; Pnom Penh, 14 Juillet 1897. Régates sur le «Mekong»; Femmes Cambodgiennes; Autour de la Ville; Types Cambodgiens; Instruments de musique Cambodgiens; Musiciens et chanteurs Cambodgiens [two different photos]; Enfants Cambodgiens; Cerémonie au Palais (Enfants de Norodom); Types Cambodgiens; Femmes Cambodgiennes; Femme Cambodgienne; Femme du 1er ministre; Chinois prisonneur du Roi; Sur la Route d’Angkor; Pagode Cambodgienne [two different photos]; Echafaudage en bambou; Elephant Royal [two different photos]; Caravanne d’ Elephants Royaux; Pnom Penh – Pont allant du Trésor (1897); Pnom Penh – Pagode du Pnom (1897); Pnom Penh - Enceinte du Palais Royal (1897); Pnom Penh - Palais du Roi (1897).