Collections

Photographic panoramas

The RCS collections contain some fine photographic panoramas. These include nine panoramas which have recently been professionally conserved - six depicting views of Hong Kong and the Kowloon Peninsula, one of Macau and one of Canton (Guangzhou) at the start of the twentieth century. The largest of the panoramas is of Medicine Hat, Alberta, taken in 1913.

For more information on their conservation, and to view digital images of the panoramas, please see the Special Collections blog ‘Historic Hong Kong’ post.

An outline catalogue of the panoramas follows, which it is hoped will be enriched at a later date.

Classmark: Y30383A Eight photographic panoramas, taken in about 1900, mostly by unknown photographer(s). Six of the panoramas are of Hong Kong, one of Canton, and one of Macau. The provenance of the panoramas is unknown, but they arrived in Cambridge University Library in 1993 as part of the Royal Commonwealth Society’s photographic collection. The panoramas were originally stored rolled, but were conserved (rehydrated, flattened, cleaned, and sleeved) in 2008-2010 by Museum Conservation Services (in Duxford, Cambridgeshire), along with a larger photographic panorama of Medicine Hat in Alberta, Canada, taken in 1913, classmark Y306863A.

Y30383A/1 CANTON & PEARL RIVER A panoramic view of the Pearl River entering Canton (Guangzhou), by an unknown photographer, taken in about 1900. Dimensions: 953 x 255 mm. Condition: Fair (a long tear to mid right of the photograph)

Y30383A/2 HONG KONG A panoramic view of the Kowloon Peninsula taken from Hong Kong Island looking across Victoria Harbour, c. 1900 by unknown photographer. Clock-tower in centre and large ship with three funnels at anchor in the port (to left of centre). Dimensions: 961 x 251 mm. Condition: Fair (parallel tears to mid-right of picture and smaller one bottom-right; tiny tear to mid left)

Y30383A/3 HONG KONG Originally a four-part panorama of Hong Kong from Victoria Peak, showing the city of Victoria below, the harbour and Kownloon Peninsula across the water. Stone cutter’s Island can be seen on the left. Taken c. 1900, by unknown photographer. Dimensions: 1086 x 212 mm. Condition: Good

Y30383A/4 HONG KONG A four-part panorama of the water-front and city of Victoria, Hong Kong, with Victoria Peak in the background. Taken c. 1900 by unknown photographer. Dimensions: 1043 x 216 mm. Condition: Fair to good (slight staining in left hand corner, and remains of creases to far right)

Y30383A/5 HONG KONG A panoramic view of the Victoria water-front, Hong Kong, showing very grand, stone ornamental quay-side buildings. The tallest building displays the sign ‘Asia Life’ and to its left the building flying a flag displays the date 1897 in stone. Taken c. 1900 by an unknown photographer. Dimensions: 716 x 194 mm. Condition: Good

Y30383A/6 HONG KONG A panoramic view taken from Victoria Peak looking down on the city of Victoria and the harbour, and across the water to the Kowloon Peninsula. Printed ‘No. 4’ and ‘Inter National Panorama Photo Co., Hong Kong’ (in bottom right-hand corner of panorama). Probably taken c. 1900. Dimensions: 1353 x 227 mm. Condition: Fair - Good (two small sections of sky missing, top-left, evidence of past creasing, slight yellowing)

Y30383A/7 HONG KONG A panoramic view of Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, with large fuel storage tanks in the foreground (bottom-left), and looking out across the water towards Victoria Peak and the Kowloon Peninsula. By unknown photographer, c. 1900, but probably by the Inter National Panorama Photo Co., Hong Kong (as very similar in style and photographic process to Y30383A/6). Dimensions: 1348 x 230 mm. Condition: Fair (bottom right-hand corner missing, where Inter National Panorama Photo Co., Hong Kong is printed on Y30383A/6)

Y30383A/8 MACAU A panoramic view of Macau taken c. 1900, by an unknown photographer. Dimensions: 961 x 249 mm. Condition: Fair (long tear to mid right of photograph, and a very small section of sky missing from top left).

Y306863A MEDICINE HAT A panoramic view of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, taken in 1913 by Voldeng and Bolton of 255 Jasper East, Edmonton, Alberta. Possibly a 360 degree panorama showing the river with the industrial town behind. There are two bridges - one rail , one road, and timber is piled beside the river in the foreground. Smoke is emitted from timber mills or factories in the town (to left-hand side). In bottom right hand corner of the print, it states: "Copyright applied for", "Voldeng and Bolton, 255 Jasper E. Edmonton, Alta." "No. 35" In the middle of the print, towards the bottom of the image, it is captioned "Medicine Hat 1913". Dimensions: over 2 metres in length.

The panoramas may be viewed by appointment in the Manuscripts Room. Please contact the RCS librarian to organise viewing. Contact RCS Librarian