These Photographs of the Ottoman Empire Are Incredibly Interesting!

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An Empire Spanning More Than 600 Years!

The Abdullah Frères also called the Abdullah Brothers were a group of three Ottoman brothers who were photographers during the late Ottoman Empire. These brothers Viçen Abdullahyan, Hovsep Abdullahyan and Kevork Abdullahyan were of Armenian descent and they took pictures of the scenic views, notable individuals and numerous Ottoman Sultans and Statesmen of the Empire.

They were internationally famous during that time and took photographs of almost all notable individuals of that time; high-profile examples include figures like Mark Twain and The Prince of Wales.

Description: Mark Twain; Date: 30 September 1867; Source: Library of Congress; Author: Abdullah frères; Permission (Reusing this file): No known restrictions; September 1-2, 1867, Pera, Constantinople

Viçen started his career in photography retouching photos for Rabach who was a German Chemist / Photographer. Rabach owned a studio called Rabach’s Photography Studio in Istanbul and Kevork studied art in Venice. Rabach’s Photography Studio was taken over by the Abdullah Brothers on Rabach’s return to Germany in 1858.

The three brothers later opened their own studio called The Abdullah Frères and in 1867 relocated to Pera where they eventually became some of the most famous photographers in the Ottoman Empire.

The Abdullah Frères were in 1863, declared by the then Sultan Abdulaziz as the official court photographers and that made them the photographers of the Palace.  He also awarded them as the outstanding artists of the city and were given Ottoman citizenship because of their successful career.

Looking at the skills and popularity gained by The Abdullah Frères, the Khedive (the title of the viceroy of Egypt under Turkish rule 1867–1914) in Egypt requested them to open a studio in Cairo which The Abdullah Frères did in 1886.

One of the most monumental of all works by The Abdullah Frères is the photographic record of the Ottoman Empire during the realm of Sultan Abdul Hamid II of Turkey who was the last of the Ottoman Emperors.

He was an avid collector and promoter of photography and this project was accomplished with ideas from the Sultan himself and was directed by The Abdullah Frères.

The Sultan wanted this work as a portrait of his empire to show the achievements and improvements of the regime, technological advancement and life at the Imperial Court. The Sultan presented a copy of this to the Library of Congress in 1894. Another similar collection was given to the British Museum which can now be seen in the British Library.

The Abdullah Frères also sold many pictures to tourists through their studios, including scenic views from Egypt and the Middle East. They eventually sold their business to Sébah and Joaillier in 1899 because their later photographs from the Abdullah Frères negatives have the Sébah and Joaillier backstamp.

Viçhen died in 1902 and when Kevork returned to Istanbul after nine years, he discovered that his brothers had sold their shares to Foto Sabah and that the business was not doing very well. Kevork lived a distressed life and died in 1918 while Hovsep died in 1908.

The photographs you see here are dated between 1880 and 1893 and they are a collection of 51 large format albums. Most of the places that you see in these photographs are located in Turkey now and there are some pictures from Iran, Lebanon, Greece amongst others.

Title: [Royal Dolmabahc̜e Sarayı (palace)] / Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-80952 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [Students, private school Hadikatül-Maarif] / Abdullah Frères, photographes de S.M.I. le Sultan; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-80806 (b&w film copy neg. with caption) LC-USZ62-73663 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [Students, Aşiret School] / Abdullah Frères, photographes de S.M.I. le Sultan; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [1892 or 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81456 (b&w film copy neg. with caption) LC-USZ62-74018 (b&w film copy neg.)

Title: [Front view of Tophane and the Imperial School of Engineering] / Abdullah Frères, Constantinople; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81904 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The neighborhood of the Sultan Beyazit Camii (mosque)] / Abdullah Frères. Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893] Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen. Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-80983 (b&w film copy neg. with frame) LC-USZ62-7969 (b&w film copy neg. without frame) Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The Sultan Ahmed middle school for girls] / Abdullah Frères, Phot., Constantinople; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Summary: Girls’ school, with lattice screens on windows; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81977 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [Tekfur Sarayı (palace)] / Abdullah Frères. Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Summary: Remains of the Tekfur Sarayı (palace); Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81394 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [View of Tophane from the sea] / Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81366 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The shores of Bebek] / Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81048 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [Exterior view of the Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Camii (mosque)] / Abdullah Frères, Phot., Constantinople; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-82402 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [Anadolu Kavaǧı] / Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Summary: A group of people on a hillside above the Bosporus; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81033 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [View from a distance of Defterdar] / Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81030 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [General Mehmed Paşa, Commander of the Imperial Ironclad Fleet] / Constantinople, Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81936 (b&w film copy neg. with caption) LC-USZ62-7951 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The three year old foals born in the first section of the Imperial Stud Farm] / Constantinople, Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-82053 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The Eski Kaplıca (Old Thermal Spring) in Bursa] / Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81541 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The imperial pavilion in Bursa] / Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81538 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [A mausoleum located between Bursa and Yenişehir] / Constantinople, Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81515 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The Imperial Pavilion at Tophane] / Constantinople, Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-82030 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [Front view of the carpentry workshop of the Imperial Tophane Factory] / Constantinople, Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-82032 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The Imperial Ironclad Frigate Asar-i Tevfik] / Constantinople, Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81846 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The navy classes of the Imperial Naval Academy] / Constantinople, Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81953 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [Position of the First Battalion of the Fire Brigade ready to leave for a fire] / Abdullah Frères, Phot., Constantinople; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-82305 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The Ministry of Commerce and Public Works] / Constantinople, Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-82359 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The parade of the First Mobile Artillery Bodyguard Brigade with the battery of artillery] / Constantinople, Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-82076 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [Quarters for gendarmes and soldiers who have recently arrived from the provinces] / Abdullah Frères, Phot., Constantinople; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-82336 (b&w film copy neg. with caption) LC-USZ62-78327 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [Exterior view of lifesaving station] / Constantinople, Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-82120 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [Interior of the Mecidiye Barracks] / Abdullah Frères, Phot., Constantinople; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81706 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The Imperial Gate of the Imperial Palace on the shores of Beylerbeyi]; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Summary: A view of the Bosporus through the Imperial Gate of the Beylerbey Sarayı (palace); Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81021 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [View from the sea of the German embassy and Fındıklı] / [A]bdullah Frères. Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893] Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen. Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-80949 (b&w film copy neg.) Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The Şale Pavilion in the Imperial Garden at Yıldız]; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81233 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [Interior view of the Yeraltı Camii (mosque)] / Abdullah Frères, Phot., Constantinople; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81862 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [One side of the Tekfur Sarayı (palace)] / Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81379 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The students at the Imperial Military Academy preparing for a sword drill] / Abdullah Frères, Phot., Constantinople; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-82213 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The ancient cannons captured from foreign states] / Abdullah Frères, Constantinople; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81925 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The big stone dock] / Abdullah Frères, Constantinople; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81740 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The mill and furnace at the Imperial Naval Arsenal] / Abdullah Frères, Constantinople; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81734 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The sea side house of the British Ambassador, Tarabya] / Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81068 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [Exterior view of the Fatih Camii (mosque) i.e., Sultan Mehmed] / Abdullah Frères, Phot., Constantinople; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-82395 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [A platoon from the First Battalion of the First Infantry Regiment of the Imperial Guard] / Abdullah Frères, Phot., Constantinople; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81660 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The cannon drill on the Imperial Ironclad Frigate Mes’udiye] / Constantinople, Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81830 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The crew of the Imperial Ironclad Frigate Hamidiye] / Constantinople, Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81815 (b&w film copy neg. with caption); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The commanders and officers of the Imperial Ironclad Frigate Mes’udiye] / Constantinople, Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81947 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The black Arabian horse named Behim] / Constantinople, Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-82045 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The mausoleum of Çelebi Sultan Mehmet (I) in Bursa] / Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81526 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [View of a mosque in Eskişehir] / Constantinople, Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81509 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [Port of Eyüp]; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-80955 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [The night guards of the lifesaving station during stormy times] / Constantinople, Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-82125 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [Soldiers of the Second Cavalry Regiment of the Imperial Guard] / Abdullah Frères, Phot., Constantinople; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81800 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [Interior view of the Tophane Factory] / Constantinople, Abdullah Frères; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-82022 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [Ali Paşa, Divisional Commander of the Lancers of the Imperial Guard] / Abdullah Frères, Phot., Constantinople; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81777 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [View of the Mecidiye Barracks] / Abdullah Frères, Phot., Constantinople; Creator(s): Abdullah Fréres, photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81704 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Title: [Mirahor Palace at Kağıthane]; Date Created/Published: [between 1880 and 1893]; Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen; Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-81010 (b&w film copy neg.); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

 Further Resources

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Dahlia Ambrose

Dahlia is a physicist and self taught photographer with a passion for travel, photography and technology. She can sometimes get obsessed trying new photography techniques and post processing styles using Lightroom or Plugins in Photoshop. She occasionally writes articles on topics that interest or provoke her. You can check out her photography on Instagram, 500px and Flickr

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