Photochrome prints of harbors

Photochrom or photochrome prints are a type of color prints that were very popular between 1890 and 1910. The photochrome process was mainly used to print postcards. Below is a collection of such old historic photos from harbors around the world. A second page shows postcards that focus more on sailing boats and steamers.

Kingstown in County Dublin, Ireland (detail)

A steamship in Queenstown Harbor, County Cork in Ireland

I consider this a classic example of good composition for landscape photography: an interesting foreground is combined with a main topic in middle while the buildings keep the background relevant. The contours of the hills in the distance add to the atmosphere.

Steamers in the harbor of Caen, France

The entrance to the harbor of St. Malo, France

Detail from a postcard of the chateau fort of Annecy, France

Sailing ships in the harbor of Hamburg, Germany

A sailing ship is pulled into the harbor of Littlehampton, England

Fisher boats in the harbor of Abbazia, Austro-Hungary

The composition of this picture is pretty funny as it gives the impression that the ships are locked up in this tiny harbor.

The harbor and admiralty of Algiers in Algeria

A steam boat enters the harbor of Helsingborg, Sweden

Can’t get enough of these historic photos?  Check out additional photochroms of North America, England, Ireland and the European continent.