'Somali Girl'. Photographer: Unknown

T.11308/13

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The record is made up of 1 albumen Method of printing photographs using an emulsion of salt and egg white (albumen). print. It was created in Mid 1870s. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

About this record

Content

Genre/Subject Matter:

This oval-shaped head and shoulders portrait of a young girl is intended to demonstrate an ethnic ‘type’, in this case a Somali girl. The Somali population at Aden are extensively described by Frederick Mercer Hunter throughout the Account .

The girl’s hair is braided from the roots in tiny braids, which give way to curls above her shoulders. She wears a close-fitting necklace of pale, evenly-coloured beads. Very little can be seen of her clothing save that her lapel appears to be torn.

Inscriptions:

In pencil, upper left corner adjacent to print: ‘13’

Extent and format

1 albumen Method of printing photographs using an emulsion of salt and egg white (albumen). print

It is part of

'An Account of the British Settlement of Aden in Arabia', compiled by Captain F.M. Hunter

15 images

Ref: T.11308

Physical characteristics

Dimensions:

92 x 59 mm [portrait]

Format:

1 albumen Method of printing photographs using an emulsion of salt and egg white (albumen). print pasted to backing paper and mounted between pp. 130-31

Materials:

Silver printing-out paper, albumen Method of printing photographs using an emulsion of salt and egg white (albumen). print

Condition:

The print is unevenly hand-cut, with one black surface adhesion upper left corner along the upper edge. Some light spotting throughout the image originate in the printing process.

Foliation:

‘13’

Process:

Albumen Method of printing photographs using an emulsion of salt and egg white (albumen). print

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Photograph

Archive information for this record

Original held at: British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.
Access conditions: Unrestricted
Archive reference: T.11308/13
Date(s): Mid 1870s (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects: Ethnographic heritage
Places: Aden
People & organisations: Frederick Mercer Hunter

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Cite this record in your research

'Somali Girl'. Photographer: Unknown, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, T.11308/13, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023400730.0x000003> [accessed 19 June 2026]

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