Albumen paper is a photographic printing paper invented by Blanquart-Evrard in the mid-19th century, in which egg whites (albumen) were used to coat the paper base before sensitization with light-sensitive chemicals. The albumen coating created a smooth, glossy surface that enhanced the brightness of the white base and significantly improved the reproduction of highlights in prints. Albumen paper became the standard for high-quality photographic prints in the 19th century, widely used in portraiture and landscape photography. Its rich tonal range, fine detail, and glossy finish make it a historically important material, and it remains of interest to collectors and practitioners of alternative photographic processes today.