Dr. Julius Richter / DSWA: Portrait Native Woman - Ethnic Nude (Rare Vintage Photo ~1890s)

Rare Ethnographic Colonial Photo – Portrait of an African Woman

Photographer/Publisher: D. Dr. Julius Richter (1862–1940)

Region of Origin: German South West Africa (Deutsch-Südwestafrika / modern-day Namibia) Estimated

Date: c. 1890–1903

Format: Unmounted Printing-Out Paper Print (approx. 16.5 x 11.6 cm, standard Cabinet size but without the cardboard backing).

Photographic Process: Authentic loose vintage silver-based print on characteristically thin paper (Gelatin or Collodion Printing-Out Paper).

Historical Significance & Context: This is an exceptionally rare and museum-quality historical document from the German colonial era in Africa. The photograph is attributed to the prominent German theologian, missiologist, and colonial publisher D. Dr. Julius Richter, renowned for documenting the region and publishing the landmark photographic collection "Bilder aus Deutsch-Südwestafrika" in 1903.

Original ethnographic prints from this specific geographic area prior to the Herero and Nama War (1904) are highly sought after and rarely appear on the open market. This portrait offers a striking, high-detail anthropological study of a local indigenous woman (likely Herero, Damara, or Nama), displaying traditional attire.

Backside Markings & Provenance: The reverse side of the paper features crucial historical stamps providing excellent provenance applied directly to the thin backing:

1. Photographer's Stamp: A vintage violet ink stamp reading: "Photographie von Julius Richter. Nachdruck verboten." (Reproduction forbidden).

2. Collector's Stamp: A later 20th-century ownership stamp from the private legal collection of Dr. iur. Werner Ulbricht, located at Leibnizstraße 14 in the historic postal district of Leipzig C 1, Germany. This stamp confirms the card’s long-standing status as a curated academic or historical collection piece.

Condition Report: crisp preservation with rich, authentic tones and fine details.

Paper: This photograph is printed on the original, historically thin vintage paper and is notably unmounted (not glued to cardboard). As typical for loose prints of this era, it shows natural light curling.

Flaws: Minimal handling wear consistent with an archival document. Microscopic signs of historic silver mirroring (silvering) are visible under close inspection near the lower-left edge, beautifully verifying the authentic age and photographic chemistry of this turn-of-the-century print. Absolutely NO modern pen marks, tears, or alterations to the photo surface

size: ~ 16.5 x 11.6 cm (1 cm ~ 0.39 inch)

condition: very good to excellent..very nice condition for a 100+ year old photo.....please also refer to scans which show complete front and reverse of photo

photography, fotografie, colonialism, ethnic, tribe, indigenous, africa, german colony