Bell Album 1

50.31.148

The Charles Bell Tibet collection of nearly 200 objects and photo albums is an important archive of the Anglo-Tibetan encounter of the early 20th century.

More images

About this object

A leather bound album of photographs taken by John Claude White during the Younghusband Expedition of 1903 - 04. The individual photographs are captioned as follows:
1. The River Teesta 59. View from Potola
2. The Source of the River Teesta 60. View from Potola
3. Glacier Lake 61. The Potola from across marshes
4. Khamba Jong 62. The Potola at Sunset
5. Khamba Jong 63. View in Lhassa
6. Khamba Jong 64. Rock carved with Buddhist figures
7. Panorama. Khamba Jong 65. View in Lhassa
8. Thibetan Nuns 66. Do Ring
9. Mount Everest from Khamba Jong - telephoto 67. View in Lhassa. Looking towards Jo Khang
10. Badula & Head Monk under Tashi Lama 68. Nachung Monastery
11. Khamba Jong 69. Nachung Monastery - the Chief Oracle's House
12. Chongu 70. Nachung Monastery - Llama's dwelling
13. The Nathu La from Champithang 71. Entrance to Nachung Monastery
14. Chumolari from Champithang 72. Nachung Monastery
15. The Amochu River from Rinchingong 73. In Nachung Monastery
16. Chutens near Rinchingong 74. Sera Monastery
17. Phema 75. In Sera Monastery
18. Bridge below Phema 76. Llamas in Sera Monastery
19. Phari Jong 77. Image in Debung Monastery
20. Phari Jong 78. View from Terrace of Debung Monastery
21. Samuda 79. Court Yard. Lalhu
22. Kangma 80. Ti Rimpochi
23. Yaks and Ekkas 81. The Ambam on Horseback
24. Gyantze Jong 82. Shapes
25. Gurkha Post 83. The Tongsa Penlop
26. Mission Post 84. The Nepalese representative at Lhassa
27. Nishi Kang Sang 85. Prisoners
28. Glacier Nishi Kang Sang at Karola 86. Prisoners
29. Glacier Nishi Kang Sang 87. Panorama of Lhassa
30. Below Karola near Lara
31. View near Lara looking up Valley
32. Samding Monastery
33. Pethe Jong
34. Yamdoktso
35. The Tsang Po Valley
36. Yamdoktso
37. The Tsang Po
38. View West of Chaksam Ferry
39. View West of Chaksam Ferry
40. (Panorama) The Tsang Po Valley
41. Viewof Iron Bridge at Chaksam
42. View from Entrance to Iron Bridge
43. Chaksam Bridge looking South
44. Road along Kyi Chu
45. Road along Kyi Chu
46. Road along Kyi Chu
47. Road along Kyi Chu
48. Road along Kyi Chu
49. The Potola & entrance gateway
50. Utok Bridge
51. The Entrance gateway from Inside
52. The potloa and Monolith
53. Stairway to Potola
54. Entrance to Potola
55. Section of Potola
56. Section of Potola
57. Gilded Roofs in Potola
58. Outside La Khang

Related blog

Making connections through online collections

Sometimes, correcting mistakes found in the museum’s records leads to new and completely unexpected connections.

Object specifics

Type

Photography
Culture

Tibetan
Artist/Maker
Place made

Asia: Central Asia: Tibet [China]
Date made

1903 - 1904
Materials

Skin Leather; Paper Plant; Paper Cardboard
Location

Item not currently on display
Acquisition

From the Collection of Sir Charles Bell
Collector

Charles Alfred Bell
Place collected

Asia: Central Asia: Tibet [China]
Date collected

1903 - 1904
Measurements
Note

Curator's note: Bell owned several albums and photographs that had been taken by other colonial officers working in the Himalaya. A substantial number came from John Claude White, who had been Political Officer Sikkim prior to Bell. White, as can be seen from the album, was a skilled photographer. Written by Emma Martin
Related people

Charles Alfred Bell ( Collector); John Claude White ( photographer)