How to view visual materials from the Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections

The Prints, Drawings and Photographs of the Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections can be viewed in the Print Room. This is within the Asian & African Studies Reading Room. Viewing is by appointment only.

Prospective users must first register for a Reader Pass. Because space is limited in the Print Room, we strongly advise you to contact us in advance to make an appointment and discuss your requirements.

The published catalogues of the collections, as well as some of the handlists, are available on the open shelves of the Asian and African Studies Reading Room. There are also two online catalogues:

India Office Select Materials - photographs
India Office Select Materials - prints and drawings (including paintings)

Complex searches can be made under subject, date, location, artist and various other headings. At present the catalogue contains text descriptions only, not digitised images.

Related material in the British Library

Drawings from India and the east by western artists are also held in the Map and Manuscript Collections. For example, the British Library's Department of Manuscripts also holds large and important collections of Indian natural history drawings, particularly those from the collection of General Thomas Hardwicke (Add. 10974-11032).

For catalogue records for these items, consult:

The Map Library's Catalogue of the maps, prints, drawings etc. forming the geographical and topographical collection of King George the Third (London, 1829)
The online Manuscript Catalogues