
A stunning collection of rare photographs that capture day-to-day life in China 150 years ago have emerged.

The 'forgotten' album by photographer Georges Morache, comprising of 41 black and white images of Beijing in the 1860s, shows busy street scenes and feature portraits of inhabitants from all walks of life.

The pictures show chess players deep in concentration, musicians entertaining on the side of the road as well as striking images of the city's historically important architecture.

The collection of rare early photographs capturing day-to-day life in China 150 years ago are set to sell for £80,000 at Sotheby's when they go under the hammer next week. The stunning album, comprising 41 black and white images of Beijing, depicts an array of busy street scenes as well as striking images of the city's historically important architecture (pictured)

The pictures document residents of Beijing from all walks of life and depict chess players deep in concentration, as well as musicians entertaining on the side of the road (pictured above) during the 1860s when the city was much quieter than now

A Chinese monk is pictured in the collection which has emerged for the first time after being 'forgotten'. After being acquired by a prominent European collector, the photos are set to go under the hammer at Sotheby's in London for around £80,000

One of only four copies ever made, the collection was produced at a time when camera technology was still in its infancy between 1865 and 1866.

And now, after being acquired by a prominent European collector, the photos are set to go under the hammer at Sotheby's in London.

They were taken by the French army's chief medical officer Georges Morache who became fascinated with Chinese culture after he moved there in 1862.

Unlike others published later by more prominent commercial photographers, Morache's photographs were taken purely for his own enjoyment.

The only other time they have been seen in public was when they were used to illustrate a French magazine article in 1876.

The Tian Tan (Temple of Heaven) in Beijing is shown above in one of the black and white photographs that features in the stunning collection. The images were taken by the French army's chief medical officer Georges Morache in the 1860s

A Chinese man with a pipe is seen in the collection of 41 photographs that have emerged in the public eye for the first time. Richard Fattorini, Sotheby's books and manuscripts specialist, described the collection as 'extremely rare'

The Grand Lama is also featured in the collection. The album is owned by a prominent European collector, who initially thought they were the work of French photographer Paul Champion instead of the actual curator Georges Morache

WHO WAS MORACHE? Georges Auguste Morache (1837-1906) was a doctor who participated in the Franco-British expedition to China in 1860-1861. He was first surgeon in the Navy and a professor at the Val-de-Grace (from 1872 to 1874). He ended his career as an associate member of the Academy of Medicine and professor of legal medicine at the Faculty of Bordeaux. He was the son of a policeman but remained a child of the people - advocating social reforms. Morache, who would have been 25 when these photographs were taken, died aged 69 in 1906. Advertisement

Richard Fattorini, Sotheby's books and manuscripts specialist, described the collection as 'extraordinary' and 'extremely rare'.

He said: 'What is so extraordinary about these photographs is that he was not producing them for the public. He was making them so they could be viewed by his family and his friends.

'Being a doctor he had access to people from all walks of life and he developed a deep interest in them and how they lived - and we can see this in the photographs he has taken.

'Many of the early photographs taken in China were taken by visiting professional photographs.

'But Morache would have had privileged access to scenes and locations little-known to those just passing through the capital.

'And because of the long exposure times required, photographers often focused on taking pictures of buildings and landscapes.

'But this collection feature lots of busy streets scenes and images of the inhabitants, including monks, a school teacher, chess players, musicians, and road menders.

'Photographs of Beijing in the 1860s are extremely rare, and especially ones featuring so many faces.'

Following academic research it was revealed that the photographs were in fact the forgotten work of Morache. Morache, who would have been 25 when these photographs were taken in Beijing in the 1860s, died aged 69 in 1906. Above: A Beijing street

Richard Fattorini, Sotheby's books and manuscripts specialist, described the collection as 'extraordinary' and 'extremely rare'. Pictured: A French legation building in Beijing captured 150 years ago by talented photographer Georges Morache

The album, which includes this image of a Beijing street, will be sold as part of Sotheby's China in Print and on Paper sale

The album is owned by a prominent European collector, who initially thought they were the work of another more prominent French photographer based in Beijing at the time called Paul Champion.

However following academic research it was revealed they were in fact the forgotten work of Morache.

Morache, who would have been 25 when these photographs were taken, died aged 69 in 1906.