Artist Index: Monaco Principality

Photographer unknown: View of the Principality of Monaco. Circa 1864. Large-format albumen print. 25,5 x 36,8cm. Mounted to board (slightly soiled, some foxing), annotated in pencil below the image on the mount.

One of the earliest photographic views of Monaco showing the Prince's Palace and the bay with some early settlements. Monaco's rise to a glittering tax haven began on February 2, 1861. In the treaty between Charles III and Emperor Napoleon III, Monaco lost 80% of it's territory but France guaranteed the sovereignity of the principality. Due to the simultaneous abolition of the customs border, trade experienced an upswing. As a result, France built a railroad line from Nice to Genoa and agreed to build a station (1868) in Monaco. This laid the foundation for growing tourism. Finally, in 1866, the casino was built in the Monte Carlo district. The revenues of the new casino were so significant that in 1869 direct taxation of the still few residents could be abolished. The large format photo offered here shows this early state of the still young principality with barely any visible infrastructure and largely undeveloped building land. Photographs from the 1860's are extremely rare.
– A few light foxing spots in sky area, retouched line in upper left, a few light surface scuff marks, otherwise a strong print in very good condition.