Close-ups
Framed and on the wall
Frame and rooms are illustrations of how the print could look, drawn to its real size; it is sold unframed unless the description says otherwise.
Towns and Landscapes
Sorting Tobacco in Lengths and Colors, Sumatra, Kleingrothe Photogravure c.1900
£210
$280 · €250
Original print, not a reproduction
Ships worldwide from the Netherlands, insured and tracked. 14-day returns.
- Date
- 1900
- Sheet size
- 13.4 × 17.7 in (34 × 45 cm)
- Condition
- Good. Wear consistent with age and use. Very good for age. Minimal toning/spots in margins consistent with antique paper. Image strong and clean. Never framed.
- Island
- Sumatra
- Collection
- Towns and Landscapes
- Period
- Netherlands Indies, 1850 and after
- Stock no.
- f_47666142
What the condition grades mean
- Excellent
- Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
- Very good
- Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
- Good
- Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
- Fair
- Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Sorting Tobacco in Lengths and Colors, Sumatra, Kleingrothe Photogravure c.1900
This original early 20th-century photogravure captures tobacco workers inside a large sorting facility on a Deli plantation in North Sumatra (Indonesia), during the Dutch colonial era. Photographed by Carl Josef Kleingrothe, the scene shows the highly organized process of grading and sorting tobacco leaves by quality, length, and color, a crucial step in preparing Sumatra’s world-famous wrapper tobacco for export to cigar manufacturers in Europe and the United States.
Kleingrothe’s plantation images are among the most historically important and visually compelling records of the colonial tobacco industry: they depict not only the industrial scale of production, but also the day-to-day labor of local workers who shaped this global commodity trade. His photogravures were published in limited numbers for plantation owners and business partners, making original impressions scarce today, especially in such fine condition.
The print retains its wide original margins and clear detailed plate impression, preserving both the artwork and its historical character. A striking collector’s piece ideal for interiors that celebrate industrial heritage, Southeast Asian history, or fine early photography.
Very good for age. Minimal toning/spots in margins consistent with antique paper. Image strong and clean. Never framed.
Framing Suggestion:
A dark wood or black frame with a natural white mat will elevate the sepia tones and highlight the strong architectural lines of the tobacco warehouse interior.
Technique: Photogravure
Maker: C.J. Kleingrothe, Medan (Sumatra), c.1900
