Join us
Orange welcome sign that reads Royal Geographical Society with IBG.

Become a member and discover where geography can take you.

Join us

Buy and license images

Our Picture Library is one of the world's finest collections of photography and artworks, recording over 200 years of travel, people, place and geographical discovery.

Our Picture Library comprises around half a million photographic images and artworks, which date from the early 19th century to the latter part of the 20th century.

Our images are used in the publishing, broadcasting, advertising and education industries. 

Contact the Picture Library via email to images@rgs.org or telephone on +44 (0)20 7591 3063.

RGS Print Store

A selection of prints can be purchased through our online store.

Visit the RGS Print Store

Commercial Licensing

The licensing of images for commercial use goes through Getty Images. Over 15,000 images can be searched by keyword.

Visit Getty Images

Academic Licensing

To request use of our images for research purposes, in academic publications, for family history, or other strictly not-for-profit projects please contact as directly to images@rgs.org

Search our online catalogue

Only a selection of our photographs and artworks have been digitised. Records of all the images in our collection can be viewed online.

Search the Collections catalogue

Scanning and photography

Scanning and photography of images is subject to the condition of the original and an appropriate fee.

Moving Footage

Our film collection is stored at the British Film Institute (BFI) and footage is licensed through their Archival Footage Sales department. Please contact them directly.

View the films