The Palm Springs Art Museum has received an anonymous gift of more than 500 images to add to its photo collection.

The addition is composed of photographs and limited-edition books with original photography dating from the mid-1800s to the late 20th century. It contains early works from Francis Firth and James Anderson, as well as later works from Alfred Stieglitz, Heinrich Kuhn and Julia Cameron. Many contemporary masters including Jock Sturges and Andre Kertesz are also featured.

These new works add some of the first examples of European photography to Palm Springs' already extensive collection of 50,000 photographic works.

The Palm Springs Art Museum is currently in the process of forming a photography council and plans on exhibiting the acquisition in late 2009 or early 2010.