View of the Keizersgracht

In the spring of 1857 Amsterdammers witnessed a comical scene near the canal. While taking pictures the British photographer Brecknell Turner fell – equipment, camera and all – from the quay into the water! He nevertheless managed to take a series of superb views of Amsterdam on paper negatives. These prints were available from Kirberger, a bookseller, and were displayed at the 1858 international photography exhibition in Amsterdam.