Yıldız Palace Photographic Collection

Yıldız Sarayı Photograph Collection is one of the most extensive and comprehensive visual archives of the Ottoman Empire, established during the reign of Sultan Abdulhamid II (1876–1909). The collection emerged as photography began to be systematically employed in the late 19th century as a documentary, promotional, and propagandistic tool.

Formation Process

Photography, invented in 1839, quickly gained popularity within the Ottoman Empire. With the interest of Sultan Abdulhamid II, photography became institutionalized under imperial patronage.

The Sultan established photographic studios within the palace and commissioned photographs of government residences, schools, barracks, hospitals, and charitable institutions not only in Istanbul but also across various provinces. He also obtained photographs from distant regions. As a result, the collection was enriched with images sourced from both state departments and private studios.

Content of the Photograph Collection

The collection comprises approximately 918 albums and over 36,000 photographs. These images cover not only Ottoman territories but also Europe, America, Japan, and certain regions of the Far East.

Subjects

The collection’s thematic range is broad:

• Architecture: Landscapes of Istanbul and provincial cities, mosques, tombs, fountains, bridges, fortresses, palaces, pavilions, mansions, schools, and hospitals.
• State and Military: Barracks, government residences, official ceremonies, officers, aides, soldiers, and military facilities.
• Public Works and Transportation: Railways, stations, factories, ports, and ships.
• Social Life: Bazaars, professional groups, sporting events, ceremonies, festivals, and everyday life of the people.
• The Outside World: Cities of Europe, America and the Far East, natural landscapes, portraits of indigenous populations, industrial products, and museums.
• Palace Life: Palace theater, jewels, princes, sultans, and palace staff.^【1】 

A Sultan Featured in the Yıldız Photograph Collection(Library and Documentation Directorate, Istanbul University)

Photographers in the Collection

The collection includes works by the most prominent photographers of the era, including:

• Abdullah Frères (Abdullah Brothers): Official photographers of the Ottoman palace, they produced significant portraits of the imperial family, state officials, and palace life.^【2】 
• Vasilaki (Basile) Kargopoulo: A Greek photographer known for his panoramic views of Istanbul and the Bosphorus.^【3】 
• Pascal Sebah: Photographed both the Ottoman populace and foreign travelers from his studios in Pera.^【4】 
• Military Photographers: Ottoman military photographers stationed in the provinces documented state institutions, schools, and public works.^【5】 

A portion of the collection also consists of albums directly purchased or gifted from Europe and America.^【6】 

Physical Characteristics of the Albums

The covers of the Yıldız albums typically feature burgundy or green velvet. Examples are also found in leather, fabric, wood, and metal bindings.

The First Lancer Cavalry Regiment of the Hassa Army Featured in the Yıldız Photograph Collection(Directorate of Library and Documentation, Istanbul University

While the large albums measure 78 x 55 cm, the smaller ones are 41 x 32 cm. Albums sent as diplomatic gifts were often more ornate, elaborate, and sometimes accompanied by bilingual captions.^【7】 

Purpose and Function

The primary objective in creating the collection was to harness photography’s power for documentation, verification, and promotion.

Sultan Abdulhamid II used photography as a tool of surveillance and control to monitor developments across the empire from the palace. Simultaneously, the albums were curated for propaganda purposes to present the Ottoman Empire’s modernization process to Western public opinion.

An American Native Featured in the Yıldız Photograph Collection (Directorate of Library and Documentation, Istanbul University

The collection also played a significant role in foreign policy. Sultan Abdulhamid II sent prepared albums to countries such as the United States, Britain, Germany, and Japan. The most famous example is the 51 albums and 1,822 photographs sent to the Library of Congress in the United States in 1893. These albums aimed to project an image of the Ottoman Empire as a powerful and modern state to the international public.^【8】 

Digitization Processes

In the last quarter of the 20th century, digitization efforts were initiated to preserve the Yıldız Photograph Collection and make it accessible to researchers. Under the project “Sultan Abdulhamid II Photograph Albums,” carried out in cooperation between Istanbul University and the TBMM National Palaces, all albums were transferred to digital format.

Japanese Women Eating Rice Featured in the Yıldız Photograph Collection(Library and Documentation Directorate, Istanbul University)

Due to the unsuitability of standard scanners for albums, high-resolution medium-format cameras were used. Photographs were taken using reproduction tables and special UV-protective glass. The digitization process ensured the preservation of the collection and enabled broader access for research.^【9】 

Conservation Status

In 1924, upon the directive of Atatürk, the collection was transferred to the Rare Books Library of Istanbul University. Today, it is preserved both in physical and digital formats. In 2023, it was inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, achieving international recognition.^【10】 

A Photograph of a Prisoner Featured in the Yıldız Photograph Collection(Directorate of Library and Documentation, Istanbul University)

The Yıldız Sarayı Photograph Collection is one of the most comprehensive visual archives documenting the political, social, cultural, and technological developments of the Ottoman Empire. The collection reflects both the empire’s efforts to construct its own memory and its image-building policies directed toward the outside world.