This database contains the digitised copies and descriptions of the photographs of cityscapes, castles, buildings and objects taken by one of the best known figures of early Hungarian photography, György Klösz (1844, Darmstadt, Hessen – 1913, Budapest) between 1875 and 1913. BFL’s digitised postcards published in this database, coming from private collections, make it possible to witness how the cityscape of Budapest changed between the 1880s and the 1960s.

The photo albums of György Klösz. This database contains the digitised copies and descriptions of the photographs of cityscapes, castles, buildings and objects taken by one of the best known figures of early Hungarian photography, György Klösz (1844, Darmstadt, Hessen – 1913, Budapest) between 1875 and 1913. The recordings currently are only available in the Hungarian Cultural Heritage Portal, the latest data with refined versions of references and specifications are accessible through BFL’s Archival fonds and stock register. (Ask for a copy or a citation by using the specified reference codes found in the latter.) It is especially the pictures showing the major public spaces and buildings of the late 19th century Budapest and some important events of the period, such as the Millennial Exhibition and the funeral of Lajos Kossuth that are considered invaluable sources. The photos of the interiors and parks of country manor houses are also worthy of interest. In the records describing the individual shots we gave not only the original title but also a so-called unified title, which provides an exact description of its subject. Apart from these the database records contain the exact location (settlement, district, street name then and now) and time of taking the shot.

Postcard database. This database can be accessed through the Electronic Archive Portal, in the search bar of the Electronic documents. The digitised postcards published in this database, coming from private collections, make it possible to witness how the cityscape of Budapest changed between the 1880s and the 1960s. These picture postcards feature public and private buildings, churches, schools, theatres, spas, hotels, parks, public spaces, statues and important events of the time. For the majority of the postcards both sides have been digitised, because the writing also conveys important information about the period. Apart from the standard black-and-white images there are postcards made using a variety of typographic techniques. The records of the database containing descriptions of over 1300 postcards give not just the original title of each card, but also a so-called unified title, providing an exact description of its subject. Apart from these, the database contains the location (district, street name then and now), the time period and the date of the postage stamp.