Abstract Most of the early professional photographers in Buenos Aires and other cities came from Brazil, Uruguay or Chile. Argentina was going through a period of internal political troubles; the governor of Buenos Aires province, Juan Manuel de Rosas was involved in a series of military actions against neighbouring provinces in oraer to consolidate his power. The rupture of diplomatic relations with France brought about a blockade of the port of Buenos Aires and of the whole Argentine coastline. This prevented the arrival of ships from abroad, espeCially those coming from France. In turn, these circumstances delayed the introduction of photography into Buenos Aires. Thus, it came to be that Bahia (Brazil), Rio de Janeiro, and Montevideo (Uruguay) were the first cities to receive news of 'the marvellous discovery of the daguerreotype . . .'.