Almarhum Sultan Sir Ismail Nasiruddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Zainal Abidin III (1907-1979) was the fourth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, and the fifteenth Sultan of Terengganu. Known for his exceptional ability as a photographer, he was a patron of the Photographic Society of Malaysia, the Camera Club of Selangor, and the founder of the Camera Club of Trengganu. In 1959, he was made an honourable member of the Photographic Society of Singapore and an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society (United Kingdom). In 1965 he was awarded the EFIAP (Excellence, Federation Internationale de l’Art Photographique) in Switzerland. He is acknowledged as the pioneer of modern Malaysian photography.

His photographs are famous all over the world except in Malaysia, where we are stuck in protocol. (Singapore would love to grab his portfolio if they had a chance). Most buyers so far have been foreigners. (Japanese top the list.)

HRH Sultan Ismail’s (yes, the same person the famous road in Kl is named after) collection is a gentle reminder of a gentler, kinder, happier time. An absolutely priceless piece of history.