Captain Linnaeus Tripe (English, 1822-1902)
Devonport, Richmond Walk, England, 1852-1854
Albumenized salt print from a waxed paper negative
23.9 x 33.4 cm mounted flush on card
Signed "L. Tripe" in ink

Captain Linnaeus Tripe (English, 1822-1902)
"No. 99. Mengoon. Small bell in front of Pagoda.", 1855
Albumenized salt print from a waxed paper negative
25.9 x 34.7 cm mounted on 45.6 x 58.3 cm paper
Signed "L. Tripe" in ink. Photographer's blindstamp and printed label with plate number and title on mount

A view of a bell in front of the Mingun Pagoda, at Burma (Myanmar). In 1855 a British mission was sent to King Mindon Min of Burma to negotiate a settlement regarding Pegu, annexed by the British following the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852. Linnaeus Tripe was the official photographer on this mission, his pioneering architectural and topographical views of the country are an important photographic record. Mingun is located 11 kms upriver from Mandalay, on the opposite bank of the Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady). In 1790 King Bodawpaya (ruled 1782-1819) began the construction of a stupa at Mingun, intended to be the highest Buddhist monument in the world and to reach a height of 150 m. Only its base had been completed when the project was abandoned at the King’s death in 1819. This terrace is considered the biggest pile of bricks in the world. The imposing structure was much damaged in an earthquake in 1838. Bronze casting has an ancient tradition in Burma and bronze bells are an integral tool of spiritual ritual at Buddhist pagodas.

Captain Linnaeus Tripe (English, 1822-1902)
"No. 60. Amerapoora. Gateway of Maja Bounghian Kyoung.", 1855
Albumenized salt print from a waxed paper negative
28.6 x 34.8 cm mounted on 45.6 x 58.3 cm paper
Printed label with plate number, title and "A solidly built wall usually surrounds Kyoungs; in the centre of each side of which is a gateway similar to the above." on mount

According to the British Library website:
The gateway of a kyaung (monastery) at Amarapura in Burma (Myanmar), from a portfolio of 120 prints. He wrote of this view, 'A solidly built wall usually surrounds kyoungs [Burmese monasteries]; in the centre of each side of which is a gateway similar to the above'. Tripe, an officer from the Madras Infantry, was the official photographer attached to a British diplomatic mission to King Mindon Min of Burma in 1855. This followed the British annexation of Pegu after the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852. Aside from official duties, the mission was instructed to gather information regarding the country and its people. Tripe's architectural and topographical views are of great documentary importance as they are among the earliest surviving photographs of Burma. Amarapura, on the Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady) river, was twice the capital of the Burmese kings of the Konbaung dynasty: from 1782 (the year of its foundation by King Bodawpaya) to 1823 and again from 1837 to 1860, after which Mandalay, 11 km to the north, became capital. Amarapura was the site of the first British Embassy to Burma in 1795, and played host again to Tripe's Mission.

Captain Linnaeus Tripe (English, 1822-1902)
"Mengoon, Pagoda from NW." Burma, 1855
Albumenized salt print from a waxed paper negative
25.1 x 34.1 cm

In 1855 a British mission was sent to King Mindon Min of Burma to negotiate a settlement regarding Pegu, annexed by the British following the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852. Linnaeus Tripe was the official photographer on this mission, his pioneering architectural and topographical views of the country are an important photographic record. Mingun, 11kms from Mandalay on the opposite bank of the Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady), is best known for its immense and incomplete pagoda begun by King Bodawpaya (ruled 1782-1819) who founded Amarapura. He intended it to be the largest Buddhist monument rising to a height of 150 ms but died in 1819 before it could be finished. This photograph gives a general view of the massive, cracked and ruined pagoda (purportedly the largest mass of brickwork in the world). An entry shrine marks each side of its square base and the edifice shows the massive fissures caused by the 1838 earthquake. Tripe wrote, 'Begun but never completed by King Mendaraggee [Bodawpaya] about the end of last century. It is about 120 feet high, and according to a miniature model of its design to be seen below on the river bank, it would have been, finished, about 480 feet high' - British Library website

Captain Linnaeus Tripe (English, 1822-1902)
"No. 37. Ava. Tower of the Palace." Burma, 1855
Albumenized salt print from a waxed paper negative
33.7 x 26.6 cm mounted on 58.4 x 45.7 cm paper
Signed "L. Tripe" in ink. Photographer's blindstamp and printed label with plate number, title and "This is the only co-herent remains of the palace. The earthquake of 1839 covered the ground with the rest of it and tilted this considerably."on mount

A watchtower at Ava (Inwa) in Burma (Myanmar), from a portfolio of 120 prints. Tripe, an officer from the Madras Infantry, was the official photographer attached to a British diplomatic mission to King Mindon Min of Burma in 1855. This followed the British annexation of Pegu after the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852. Aside from official duties, the mission was instructed to gather information regarding the country and its people. Tripe's architectural and topographical views are of great documentary importance as they are among the earliest surviving photographs of Burma. Tripe described this view of the Nanmyin, a square brick and stucco watchtower, tilting and surrounded by fallen masonry, 'This is the only coherent remains of the palace. The earthquake of 1839 covered the ground with the rest of it and tilted this considerably'. Ava, located south-west of Amarapura at the confluence of the Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady) and the Myitnge rivers, was founded in about 1365 as the third capital of the Shan rulers previously established at Pinya and Sagaing. For the most part of the next five centuries it remained the royal city until finally abandoned as capital in favour of Amarapura. Much of Ava including the 19th century palace of King Bagyidaw at its centre was destroyed in a disastrous earthquake in 1838. The Nanmyin is all that remains of the palace although the upper part of this 30 m high masonry tower was destroyed. The lower part leans to one side, earning it the nickname of 'the leaning tower of Ava' - British Library website

Captain Linnaeus Tripe (English, 1822-1902)
"No. 108. Rangoon. South Entrance of Shwe Dagon Pagoda." Burma, 1855
Albumenized salt print from a waxed paper negative
25.9 x 34.3 cm mounted on 45.6 x 58.4 cm paper
Signed "L. Tripe" in ink. Photographer's blindstamp and printed label with plate number, title and "The road which leads to this, is, on festival days, crowded with Burmese men, women, and children, in gay silks and muslins carrying offerings to the Pagoda." on mount

A view looking towards the steps and southern gateway of the Shwe Dagon Pagoda at Rangoon (Yangon) in Burma (Myanmar). Tripe wrote, 'The road which leads to this, is, on festival days, crowded with Burmese, men, women, and children, in gay silks and muslins carrying offerings to the Pagoda'. According to legend, the Shwe Dagon Pagoda, most revered of all the Buddhist monuments of Burma, was founded in the lifetime of the Buddha as a reliquary to enshrine eight hairs from his head brought back from India by two merchant brothers, Tapissa and Balika. While the core of the stupa may be very ancient, the whole is relatively more recent. It has been rebuilt several times from the 14th century onwards and the structure as seen by Tripe's mission dates from the 1770s when King Hsinbushin of the Konbaung dynasty made many improvements to it. The ascent to the stupa on its platform is by four stairways from the four cardinal points. The southern stairway is the traditional entrance to the Shwe Dagon although today people also use the eastern stairway. In 1855 a British mission was sent to King Mindon Min of Burma to negotiate a settlement regarding Pegu, annexed by the British after the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852. Linnaeus Tripe was the official photographer on this mission and his architectural and topographical views of the country form an important record.

Captain Linnaeus Tripe (English, 1822-1902)
"No. 56. Amerapoora. View on the Lake.", September-October 1855
Albumenized salt print from a waxed paper negative
22.4 x 34.8 cm mounted on 45.6 x 58.3 cm paper
Signed "L. Tripe" in ink. Photographer's blindstamp and printed label with plate number, title and "Taken from the causeway crossing the Toung-deman lake at its Eastern extremity. A glimpse of the city is caught on the left." on mount

This dreamlike view looks across Taungthaman Lake to the city of Amarapura in Burma (Myanmar). Tripe, an officer from the Madras Infantry, was the official photographer attached to a British diplomatic mission to Burma in 1855. Aside from official duties, the mission was instructed to gather information about the country and its people. Tripe’s architectural and topographical views are of great documentary importance as they are among the earliest surviving photographs of Burma. The photographer wrote of this view, “Taken from the causeway crossing the Toung-deman lake at its eastern extremity. A glimpse of the city is caught on the left”. Tripe’s mastery with the paper negative is at its highest level in this composition which anticipates impressionism.

Captain Linnaeus Tripe (English, 1822-1902)
"No. 52. Amerapoora. Mosque." Burma, 1855
Albumenized salt print from a waxed paper negative
34.3 x 27.3 cm mounted on 58.3 x 45.6 cm paper
Signed "L. Tripe" in ink. Photographer's blindstamp and printed label with plate number, title and "This is in China Street. There are some thousands of Mahomedans and numbers of Mosques in and about Amerapoora. The Architecture of the latter partakes much of the Burmese element." on mount

A view looking towards the ornately embellished minaret of a mosque at Amarapura in Burma (Myanmar). Tripe, an officer from the Madras Infantry, was the official photographer attached to a British diplomatic mission to King Mindon Min of Burma in 1855. This followed the British annexation of Pegu after the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852. Aside from official duties, the mission was instructed to gather information regarding the country and its people. Tripe's architectural and topographical views are of great documentary importance as they are among the earliest surviving photographs of Burma. Amarapura, on the Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady) river, was twice the capital of the Burmese kings of the Konbaung dynasty: from 1782 (the year of its foundation by King Bodawpaya) to 1823 and again from 1837 to 1860, after which Mandalay, 11 km to the north, became capital. Amarapura was the site of the first British Embassy to Burma in 1795, and played host again to Tripe's Mission. Tripe wrote of this mosque,'This is in China Street. There are some thousands of Mahomedans and numbers of Mosques in and about Amerapoora. The architecture of the latter partakes much of the Burmese element'.

Captain Linnaeus Tripe (English, 1822-1902)
"No. 118. Rangoon. Natural Bridge." Burma, 1855
Albumenized salt print from a waxed paper negative
25.2 x 33.3 cm mounted on 45.6 x 58.3 cm paper
Signed "L. Tripe" in ink. Photographer's blindstamp and printed label with plate number, title and "A fallen tree over Tiger Alley near the American Mission at Kemindine." on mount

This view shows "a fallen tree over Tiger Alley near the American Mission at Kemindine". Tiger Alley was one of the roads leading out of Rangoon to the north. Kemmendine (Kyimyintaing) was a district of Rangoon to the north-west. The Second Anglo-Burmese war of 1852 ended with the British annexation of Pegu and occupation of Rangoon. Lord Dalhousie, the Governor General of British India was instructed by the East India Company to require the Burmese king Mindon Min to sign a treaty recognising the annexation. Diplomatic overtures commenced in 1855 by means of a mission headed by Arthur Phayre, the newly-appointed Commisssioner of Pegu province, and Henry Yule, an officer in the Public Works Department was appointed Secretary to the mission. Besides the diplomatic objective, the mission was expected to obtain detailed information about Upper Burma. Linnaeus Tripe was appointed official photographer to the mission.

Captain Linnaeus Tripe (English, 1822-1902)
"No. 71. Amerapoora. A Street leading to the Palace.", 1855
Albumenized salt print from a waxed paper negative
25.4 x 34.7 cm mounted on 45.6 x 58.3 cm paper
Signed "L. Tripe" in ink. Photographer's blindstamp and printed label with plate number, title and "The Ooh-nein gate leads into this street. The Palace is the centre of the city, and the streets leading from the central gate of each face converge on it." on mount

In 1855 a British mission was sent to King Mindon Min of Burma to negotiate a settlement regarding Pegu, annexed by the British following the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852. Linnaeus Tripe was the official photographer on this mission, his pioneering architectural and topographical views of the country are an important photographic record. Amarapura, on the Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady) river, was twice the capital of the Burmese kings of the Konbaung dynasty: from 1782 (the year of its foundation by King Bodawpaya) to 1823 and again from 1837 to 1860, after which Mandalay, 11 km to the north, became capital. Amarapura was the site of the first British Embassy to Burma in 1795, and played host again to Tripe's Mission. The city was built on a square plan, surrounded by a wall and a moat. Each side of the wall measured 1.6 km and had three gates leading into the main streets that divided the city into equal square blocks, with a massive wooden palace at its centre. The palace was dismantled in 1857, and its materials reused to build the new royal capital, Mandalay. Tripe wrote of this view looking along a street lined with single-storied thatched houses towards the pyat-that or tiered platform of the palace in the distance, 'The Ooh-nein gate leads into this street. The Palace is the centre of the city, and the streets leading from the central gate of each face converge on it'.