Charles Clifford - “Baleares. Aldeanos de Palma y sus alrededores”

Charles Clifford (1860) – 'Balearic Islands. Villagers of Palma and its surroundings' – Original albumen with a dry royal seal – Very rare

Important original albumen by the English photographer Charles Clifford (1819–1863), one of the pioneers of photography in Spain and named Photographer of Her Majesty by Queen Victoria.
The work is part of his famous series of views of the Balearic Islands created around 1860, and belongs to the photographic project known as Photographic Memories of the Journey of Their Majesties and Highnesses to the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, and Aragon.

The portrait depicts a group of villagers from Palma in traditional attire beside a well, an exceptional ethnographic representation from the 19th century. Clifford's scenes of local customs in the Balearic Islands are considerably rarer than his monumental views, making this piece especially valuable and sought after by collectors.

The photograph preserves on the cardboard the real royal dry seal of Clifford, with the British crown and the shield with the inscription:

C. Clifford – Photo of H.M.

This same seal appears on the copies preserved in major international institutions, such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) or the National Library of Spain (Madrid).

The piece for sale clearly corresponds to the same historical edition.

Technical data of the batch

Author: Charles Clifford (1819–1863)
Balearic Islands. Villagers of Palma and its surroundings
Date: ca. 1860
Technique: Albumen photograph mounted on original cardboard.
Seal: Dry royal seal 'C. CLIFFORD – Photo. of H.M.'
Approximate mounting measurements: 42–44 × 58–59 cm.
Approximate measurements of the image: 24 × 28 cm
Provenance: Spanish private collection
Type: Period print, not a modern reproduction.

Well preserved albumin, with good tonal stability.
Light foxing on the edges and areas of the cardboard, common in 19th-century pieces.
Gentle tone overall, without losses or interventions.
Edges of the cardboard with yellowing and warping typical of age.
Original assembly intact, without restorations.
Overall condition: very good for a photograph over 160 years old.

Rarity and value as a collectible object

Photographs by Clifford taken in the Balearic Islands are rare and have a very strong market among 19th-century photography collectors, Spanish iconography enthusiasts, and pieces with British provenance.
The presence of the royal seal in dry embossing, the original mounting, the ethnographic theme, and the museum connection make this piece a highly valuable and collectible example of historical significance.