Photography in Istanbul became popular in 1850. However, in 1843 the French photographerJoseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey was the first person to photograph the city. Remarkably, his photographs were only discovered in the 1920s in a storeroom of his estate and then only became known eighty years later. Some of his work is seen below.

A panoramic view of Constantinople. One of the first pictures ever captured of the city. 1844.

A larger section of the above photo.

Beyazıt Camii (Beyazid II Mosque)

Sariyer Fisheries

Çengelköy

Haydarpaşa

Alay Köşkü (Procession Kiosk)

Various untitled photos

İstanbul is one of the most captivating cities in the world. I’ve spent many hours wandering its streets and bazaars and mosques and monuments; I’d love to be able to go back and spend a lot more time exploring it. Oh, the food, and the spices, and the lokum and the sahlep and the ayran and the…

The Old Wolf has spoken.