The Fiji Museum's Photography Department has a unique collection of approximately 10,000 historical photographs; and more than 150 glass plate negatives and lantern slides donated by the families of early settlers, colonists, government officials and individual donors.
The oldest photographic image in its possession is a "Daguerreotype", one of the first methods used to produce an image in circa 1840. Other early photographic processes include tintype, albumen, platinotype, collodion (POP), gelatin (POP), collodion wet plates and gelatin dry plates. Examples of all of these can be found in the museum.
The photographic collection is open to everyone to view. The precious original prints and negatives are now safely archived and access to them is limited, however, the department has compiled books of photocopies of the originals, and there are also contact prints made from re-photographing the original.
Modern prints can be ordered for personal and commercial use. For more information and a guide to prices please contact the museum photographer.
Click here for the Glass Plate Negative Photographs Exhibition.
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