Prince Archibong III in his coronet and a Calabar Lady

Nigerian Photographic Album
c. 1890–1900
Silver gelatin or matte collodion print
The creator of this album is unknown. A number of photographs have, however, been attributed to Jonathan Adagogo Green, an Ijo photographer from Bonny in southeast Nigeria. Green took perhaps the most famous photograph of Oba Ovonramwen, the king of Benin from 1888 to 1897, in chains flanked by native guards going into exile on board the British protectorate yacht Ivy after the destruction of the royal palace and sacking of Benin in 1897. This album contains a rather unusual portrait of the oba smiling on board the yacht, perhaps revealing a more relaxed moment with the photographer (bottom right).

Left
Prince Archibong III in his coronet
Old Calabar, Nigeria
Photographer unknown, c. 1900
EEPA 2000-003-0035

Right
Calabar lady
Old Calabar, Nigeria
Photographer unknown, c. 1900
EEPA 2000-003-0036