Burma under the British: Rare 19th Century photographs capture the lives of Buddhist monks, tribespeople and the country's last king during UK rule

These rare photographs offer a fascinating glimpse into the lives of Burmese people under British rule in the 19th Century.

The pictures, which date back more than 120 years, show a different time of Buddhist monks, tribes and the last king in Burmese history.

They are part of souvenir album taken by various photographers who travelled around Burma between 1887 and 1895.

(Buddhist monks pose for a picture at a temple in Burma in a rare set of photographs showing life under British rule in the 19th Century)

(This photograph of a tribe is part of an album taken by various photographers who travelled around Burma between 1887 and 1895)

Most were taken by Italian-British photographer Felice Beato who was one of the first people to take pictures in east Asia as well as being one of the first war photographers.

The album is now going up for auction, where it is expected to fetch £4,000.

It is likely the album was compiled by a British military official after the deposition of King Thibaw Min by the British Army in the third Anglo-Burmese War in November 1885.

The British invaded with 11,00 men, boats and elephant batteries after King Thibaw issued a proclamation calling on his countrymen to liberate Lower Burma which they said showed he was a tyrant who reneged on his treaties.

Two of these photographs show the former king on his throne and his wife, Supayalat. The couple and their two young daughters were exiled to Ratnagiri in India.

Monasteries, ceremonial dancers, pagodas, elephants and Buddhist monks are featured in the album as well as studio portraits and landscape views by Beato.

(Bygone era: Burma's last king, Thibaw Minby, who was deposed by the British Army in the third Anglo-Burmese War in November 1885)

(King Thibaw Minby's wife Supayalat. The couple and their two young daughters were exiled to Ratnagiri in India after the British invasion)

There are also several images of groups of indigenous people from the Asian country, one group can be seen in chains and another shows captured Dacoits or bandits.

Beato, who died in 1909 aged 77, travelled extensively through Burma and eventually opened a furniture and curio business in the country. Of the 57 images, 42 were taken by him.

The album also contains images by English photographer Colin Murray, of Bourne & Shepherd – one of the oldest photographic studios that is still in operation – who bought the company around 1868. A few images are by unknown photographers.

The photos are mounted to gilt-edged album boards and bound in a leather album.

Despite its age, many of the photos are described as being in 'good to very good condition'.

(A view of a pagoda and a Buddhist statue in Rangoon, the former capital of Burma, during British rule in the 19th Century )

(Most of the images were taken by Italian-British photographer Felice Beato who was one of the first people to take pictures in east Asia)

(A view of Mandalay, the former royal capital of Burma. The album is now going up for auction where it is expected to fetch £4,000)

A spokeswoman from the auction house Galerie Bassenge said: 'This is a souvenir album of Burma, dated from 1887 to 1895. It is a very rare and comprehensive album of Burma.

'The majority of the photographs are by Felice Beato, several images are by Colin Murray/Bourne & Shepherd and a few unknown photographers.

'The album was most likely compiled by a British military official after the deposition of King Thibaw Min by the British Army.

'Some of the photos have the photographer's name - like Bourne & Shepherd - in the negative in lower corners.

'They are mounted to gilt-edged album boards that are slightly warped and time-stained due to their age and all contained in a leather album.

'The album itself has a cracked spine, its edges are rubbed and it has a loose front cover. Two photographs by an unknown photographer show the former King Thibaw Min on his throne and his wife Supayalat.

'As well as monasteries, ceremonial dancers, pagodas, and elephants, Buddhist monks are also included. The studio portraits and landscape views by Beato are exceptionally attractive.'

The album will be up for auction on June 1 at 3pm in Berlin, Germany, and bids can be made on the phone.

Ref: Burma under the British: Rare 19th Century photographs capture the lives of Buddhist monks, tribespeople and the country's last king during UK rule (dailymail)