Early Photo of a Large Inscription on Riguang Rock Celebrating a Defeat of Japanese Forces in Xiamen, China (1871)

Photo of an inscription on Riguang Rock celebrating a defeat of Japanese forces (probably actually pirates) in Xiamen, China, c. 1871. Taken by Scottish photographer John Thomson. The inscription on the rock seems to have either been destroyed or covered up by construction in the decades after this photo was taken as the few other photos of it known to exist look like they were taken during the 1870s or 1880s.

Source: Wellcome Collection.

Second photo of the rock taken by American photographer Charles William Wason, c. 1880.

A third photo of the rock exists in the Phelps Collection of the National Geographic Society Archives.

Photo of a Scattered Group of Bison Bones Taken in a Field Somewhere in Colorado Territory (1870)

Photo of a scattered group of buffalo bones taken somewhere in Colorado Territory, c. 1870. Taken by photographer William Henry Jackson and created using a scan of the original glass negative.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration.

Photo of a Man Posing With What is Said to be a Bronze Dome From the Porcelain Pagoda Tower in Nanjing, China (1871)

 

Photo of a man posing with what is said to be a bronze dome from the Porcelain Pagoda tower in Nanjing, China, 1871. The tower had been destroyed during the Taiping Rebellion in 1856. Note the graffiti written on the dome and also the building rubble presumably from the tower scattered around it. Taken by Scottish photographer John Thomson. From a scan of the original glass negative.

Source: Wellcome Collection.

Occupational Portrait of Three Grave Diggers Posing With a Recently Dug Grave in a Cemetery (1860s)

 

Portrait of three grave diggers posing with a recently dug grave in a cemetery, location unknown, c. 1860s. Attributed to Mathew Brady. Note the blanket in the foreground used for collecting dirt from the grave as it is being dug. Also, a possible hearse is seen in the background at the top of the hill at left.

Source: National Portrait Gallery.

Portrait of a Man Posing at the Entrance of a Mine Somewhere in the Pahranagat Valley of Nevada (1871)

Portrait of a man posing at the entrance of a mine somewhere in the Pahranagat Valley of Nevada, 1871. By Timothy O’Sullivan.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration.

Portrait of a Chinese Woman Comparing One of Her Bound Feet With Another Chinese Woman Who Has Unbound Feet in Xiamen, China (1869)

Portrait of a Chinese woman comparing one of her bound feet with another Chinese woman who has unbound feet in Xiamen, China, 1869. By Scottish photographer John Thomson.

Source: Wellcome Images.

Portrait of a Muslim Butcher Posing With a Mule in Beijing, China (1869)

Portrait of a Muslim butcher posing with a mule in Beijing, China, 1869. By Scottish photographer John Thomson.

Source: Wellcome Images.

Portrait of Members of a Cricket Team Attributed to Mathew Brady (1860′s)

Portrait of members of a cricket team attributed to Mathew Brady, c. 1860′s.

Source: Library of Congress.

Portrait of a Mandarin Official And His Son in Guangzhou, China (1869)

Portrait of a Mandarin official and his son in Canton (Guangzhou), China, 1869. By Scottish photographer John Thomson.

Source: Wellcome Images.

Portrait of Two Buddhist Monks in Guangzhou, China (1869)

Portrait of two Buddhist monks in Canton (Guangzhou), China, 1869. By Scottish photographer John Thomson.

Source: Wellcome Images.

Portrait of a Union Soldier Posing With a Horse During the American Civil War (1860′s)

Portrait of a Union soldier posing with a horse during the American Civil War, c. 1861-1865. Attributed to Mathew Brady.

Source: Library of Congress.

Portrait of a Nightwatchman Posing at an Entrance of a Building in Beijing, China (1869)

Portrait of a nightwatchman posing at an entrance of a building in Peking (Beijing), China, 1869. By Scottish photographer John Thomson.

Source: Wellcome Images.

Portrait of a Stage Actress Identified as Posa Cook Attributed to Mathew Brady (1860′s)

Portrait of a stage actress identified as Posa Cook attributed to Mathew Brady, c. 1860′s.

Source: Library of Congress.

Retouched Copy Negative Portrait of a Woman Identified as Mrs. Thouron Attributed to Mathew Brady (1860′s)

Retouched copy negative portrait of a woman identified as Mrs. Thouron attributed to Mathew Brady, c. 1860′s.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration.

Portrait of a Man Identified As Mr. E. Calcano Attributed to Mathew Brady (1860′s)

Portrait of a man identified as Mr. E. Calcano, c. 1860′s. Attributed to Mathew Brady.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration.