Albumin print, Oran harbor, Algeria, view from Fort Saint Gregoire, ND Phot, circa 1900

This historical photograph shows a detailed and lively panoramic view of the harbor of Oran in Algeria, taken from the historic Fort Saint-Grégoire as an original albumin print. The albumin process used was the dominant photochemical technique of that era, in which egg white was used to bind the light-sensitive silver salts to the paper, giving the photographs their characteristic warm sepia tone, a soft glossy surface, and high detail sharpness. From the elevated perspective of the fortress, the motif offers a fascinating view of the bustling activity in the harbor basin, where numerous historical ships and sailing boats lie closely together. The maritime scenery is framed by the dense urban architecture of Oran, which extends picturesquely along the coastal hills.

The authorship is undisputedly attributed to the renowned French publishing house Neurdein Frères under the well-known brand ND Phot due to the original text in the negative, who were famous for their qualitatively outstanding documentation of North Africa. This print was produced around the year 1900, during the heyday of colonial travel photography. From a historical perspective, this original albumin photo is of high value as it preserves the urban and maritime development of the important Algerian port city at the turn of the century as an authentic visual primary document.

The historical collector's item is available as a loose sheet and features the original dimensions of 27,5 x 21 cm. Good age-appropriate condition with slight toning and small light creases at the edges and corners. A few white blemishes in the image; the bottom margin features the original white handwritten text within the photo negative: "ORAN - Le Port, vue prise du fort St Gregoire."