ype: Photograph
Format: Albumen Print / Cabinet Card Style (Double-sided card mount)
Photographer: Sébah & Joaillier
Region of Origin: Ottoman Empire / Istanbul (Constantinople)
Date of Creation: Late 19th Century (ca. 1880s-1890s)
Size: 17x12 cm (Image size only, excluding the cardboard mount)
Subject: Prinkipo (Büyükada) Coastline view from Halki (Heybeliada) & Topkapi Palace view from Cihangir with Ships
Original/Reprint: Original Print
Rare Double-Sided Ottoman Albumen Photograph by Sébah & Joaillier – Istanbul / Constantinople
An exceptional, authentic late 19th-century photographic item from the renowned studios of Sébah & Joaillier, masters of Ottoman photography. This unique piece features two distinct, highly detailed views of Constantinople mounted back-to-back on a single piece of thick, rigid period cardboard.
Side A (Image File: Tarama_20260616 (2).jpg):
Subject: Panoramic view of the Prinkipo (Büyükada) coastline taken from Halki (Heybeliada) in the Princes' Islands (Les Îles des Princes). It captures historical coastal mansions, green hillsides, and the serene landscape of the islands during the late Ottoman era.
Inscriptions: White studio negative signature in French on the bottom left: "No. 8. Iles des Princes. Halki, vue prise de Prinkipo" (or variant text) and the official studio signature "Sébah & Joaillier" on the bottom right.
Side B (Image File: Tarama_20260616.jpg):
Subject: A magnificent maritime view of the Topkapı Palace coastline (La Pointe du Sérail) captured from the heights of Cihangir Hill. The foreground dramatically showcases classical Ottoman sailing vessels, steamships, and local boats anchored in the harbor, alongside a traditional minaret.
Inscriptions: White studio negative inscription on the bottom left: "No. 428. La Pointe du Sérail" and the studio signature "Sébah & Joaillier" on the bottom right.
Dimensions & Physical Format:
Image Size: 17 x 12 cm (Note: This measurement refers strictly to the photograph itself, excluding the surrounding cardboard border).
Mounting: Both original albumen prints are securely affixed back-to-back onto a sturdy, period-appropriate hard cardboard mount. The left margin of the card shows contemporary binding/album holes, typical for professional studio portfolios of the era.
Condition Report:
State: Vintage/Circulated Condition.
Details: The photographs retain excellent sepia tones, fine details, and strong contrast for their age. The rigid cardboard mount displays minor edge wear, light corner rounding, and slight aging/foxing near the borders, which does not affect the central image area. A highly preserved collector's item.