(Photochrome) Mint tower, Amsterdam, Holland 0400-5970

Vintage Photochrom Print — Mint Tower (Munttoren) on the Binnen Amstel, Amsterdam, c.1890–1900

Step onto the banks of the Binnen Amstel in the late 19th century and you would have seen this exact scene: the iconic Mint Tower (Munttoren) rising above houseboats, markets, and the gentle shimmer of Amsterdam’s waterways. This remarkable image is one of the finest surviving examples of the Photochrom process — a revolutionary technique that transformed black-and-white negatives into vividly colored prints long before true color photography existed.

We print this edition in Switzerland, just a short train ride from where the Photochrom process was invented.

A Brief History of the Photochrom Process

Developed in the 1880s by Hans Jakob Schmid of the renowned Swiss printing house Orell Gessner Füssli (est. 16th century), the Photochrom method was commercialized through a dedicated spin-off company, Photochrom Zürich, later Photoglob Zürich AG — both of which still exist today.

By the mid-1890s the technology spread worldwide, licensed to major publishers including the Detroit Photographic Company in the United States (creators of the famous “phostint” prints) and the Photochrom Company of London. Early adopters included celebrated photographers Félix Bonfils, Francis Frith, and William Henry Jackson, helping the process reach peak popularity during the 1890s when color photography remained impractical.

Why This Print Is Special

This is not a modern recoloring or AI recreation. It is the authentic 1890s color vision of Amsterdam — the same view once displayed in grand hotels, steamship offices, and travel bureaus around the world.

Our founder, Richard Weedn, visited the archives in Dearborn years ago and scanned many of the original 8×10" glass negatives. We are proud to republish them near their process’s birthplace in Switzerland.

Perfect For

• Anyone with Dutch heritage or memories of Amsterdam
• Travelers seeking a meaningful piece of Holland
• Interiors that benefit from vintage tones of emerald, gold, canal blue, and warm light

Bring the magic of turn-of-the-century Amsterdam into your home — the same timeless view that captivated travelers over 130 years ago.

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