Incredible 180-year-old photos reveal Rome's ancient treasures before hordes of selfie-snapping visitors ruined the historic views

 

A collection of photographs thought to be among the oldest ever taken of Rome have emerged for sale at auction for a jaw-dropping £120,000.

The group of 78 images date back to between 1840 and 1860 and were taken by some of the most pioneering photographers of the time.

They feature historic and ancient sites still instantly recognisable to tourists today, such as the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain.

The iconic locations have barely changed in the 180 years since they were taken, meaning the pictures look as though they could have been taken yesterday.

They have been amassed over a number of years by a European couple who collect antique photographs.

Now they are to go under the hammer with auctioneers Lempertz of Cologne in Germany.

Specialists there have given the set a combined estimate of around €130,000 (£118,000) and are expecting a huge level of interest.

Among the standout shots are several of the Colosseum taken from both inside and out.

The Roman Forum also features heavily as well as a number of churches, palaces and squares.

The pictures were taken by some of the earliest professional photographer, acting less than a decade after photography was invented.

They included Giacomo Caneva, Frédéric Flachéron, Eugène Constant, James Anderson and Robert Macpherson.

Many of them were already wealthy and visited Rome as part of their European grand tours.

They would have sold the prints of their photos to equally wealthy clients, ranging from travellers to art lovers.

Maren Klinge, a photography expert at the auction house, said: 'This collection is indeed something very special.

'The couple were very selective in their approach and only included material in their collection that met their high standards of quality.

'Because of the photographers represented in it and the different photographic techniques it offers a representative overview of the early period of Italian photography.

'The great rarity of the works should also be mentioned. The works date back to the early days of the medium, and most of the photographic production of these years has not been preserved.

'What also distinguishes this collection as a whole is the extraordinarily good condition of the prints.

'In general, prints from the early days of photography often show traces of usage or damages due to their age but in this respect the collection is truly remarkable.'

The sale takes place on December 7.  

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