Photography

The Library can provide a range of imaging services for private research or commercial publications. Applicants can request digital images from our collection for private research and/or reproduction and publication. Images will only be provided where the material is suitable for digitisation. These services will be provided according to the provisions of current copyright law.

Images can be supplied as high-resolution images (TIFF or JPEG) suitable for detailed research and for reproduction or as standard quality images (PDF) suitable for basic research purposes. The type of image supplied may depend on the format and condition of the original as the preservation of the material is the Library’s over-riding concern.

To order images, download our Digital Photography form.

Please consult our online catalogues to provide each item’s full shelfmark and page/folio number.

Decide whether you want high- or standard-resolution images, and tick the appropriate box on the form. Our standard pricing is as follows:

High-Resolution Images
TIFF or JPEG*£14.40 each
Standard Resolution Images PDF
1st image per order£8.40
All subsequent images£1.20
*We regret that we are currently experiencing some technical problems with our high-resolution imaging service. We apologise for any delays in fulfilling orders.

Once you have filled out the form, please use the contact form at the bottom of this page to attach and submit your request.

Please note that there is a limit of 40 images per order.

Upon receipt of your order, one of our team will examine the material you have requested and provide you with a quote. Depending on staff capacity and the complexity of your order, this may take up to 10 working days.

We will then ask you how you wish to pay. Your options will be as follows:

  • Pay by credit/debit card via PayPal. You do not need a PayPal account to do this. The Library cannot accept card payments any other way.
  • Pay by sterling cheque made out to “The Church Commissioners” and sent to the following address: Lambeth Palace Library, 15 Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7JT

Please do not make any payments before the final amount has been confirmed.

Images will be sent via a Box link (an online file sharing service) or by e-mail depending on the file size.

Depending on staff capacity and the volume and complexity of your request, completion may take up to 4 weeks from date of payment. Please bear this in mind before placing your order.

Rights & Copyright Clearances

The Library’s Imaging Services administers permissions and clearances to use images from our collections in electronic and non-electronic formats. The applicant must abide by current legislation on copyright which may restrict the reproduction of certain images.

The Library reserves the rights to provide non-exclusive licences.

Where a reproduction fee is payable, rights will be granted on receipt of payment. Rights granted may not be assigned, loaned or transferred to third parties.

You can request permission to reproduce images from our collections via our Permission to Reproduce form. Please consult our online catalogues to provide each item’s full shelfmark and folio/page number. Once completed, please use the contact form below to attach and submit your request for reproduction rights.

Readers are welcome to take their own photographs of items in the Reading Room, free of charge. This is on the condition that:

  • They have a Self-Service Photography permit. This can be obtained from the issue desk on arrival
  • They abide by current copyright rules
  • No flash is used and the camera is on silent, so as not to disturb other readers
  • Photography is compatible with the preservation of the material. Staff will advise if the material is not suitable for photography
  • The photographs are for their own private use only. Any readers wishing to reproduce or publish the images will need to obtain permission through the process outlined above.

Our Digital Image Database

The image you want might already be available to you. Discover our digital collections of over 30,000 images and fully digitised volumes from Lambeth Palace Library. You can browse images by category  and access copies of whole volumes which have been digitised.

These images are still available for purchase and licensing via our Imaging Services.

We continue to digitise and upload new images every week.

Submit Your Image Request

    We regret that we are currently experiencing some technical problems with our high-resolution imaging service. We apologise for any delays in fulfilling orders.