The primary emphasis of this private historical photographic collection is to curate original South African produced photographs from prior to 1915.

The main photographic formats contained in this collection are:

• Carte-de-Visite format photographs by South African based photographers (1860s – 1880s);
• Cabinet Card format photographs by South African based photographers (1870s – 1910s);
• Stereoview format photographs with a South African theme (Anglo Boer-war & Mining themes included);
• South African themed magic lantern slides; Anglo Boer-war photographs in any photographic format.

Although not the primary focus, the collection also contains other photographic formats and images from post 1915.

Photographs from the collection are used mainly for research purposes by Carol Hardijzer (who makes regular contributions to The Heritage Portal) as well as fellow researchers. The main focus of the collection is in identifying the various photographers that have been active in South Africa between 1846 & 1915. The collection also holds interest for genealogists in that all sitters identified have been recorded.

Also see the updated Bensusan list of 19th century South African based photographers collated by Hardijzer from this collection. Click here to view.