#PE12
Ca. 1880s-1890s
Folio (ca. 37.5 x 28 cm or 14 ¾ x 11 in). 75 double paper leaves. 74 mounted albumen photographs from ca. 27.5 x 21 cm (10 ¾ x 8 ¼ in) to 25 x 14.5 cm (9 ¾ x 5 ½ in). 58 images captioned or signed in negative. Period black quarter sheep with dark olive cloth boards and marbled endpapers. Binding loosened, spine rubbed; front endpaper detached, several mounts with tears and minor losses not affecting images; ca. 12 images with minor tears or creases around edges, some photos mildly faded, but overall a very good album of in teresting photos.
An interesting collection of 74 large albumen photographs showing Egypt, including Cairo, the Suez Canal, portraits of city locals, and ancient temple sites. Thirty photographs are signed by the Zangaki Brothers, ten are signed by Antonio Beato, and seven are signed by Hippolyte Arnoux.
Over fifteen photographs show cities in Egypt. Many (over ten) are of Cairo, including views of the Muhammad Ali Mosque, the funerary complex of Sultan Qaytbay, Al-Azar Mosque, the Qasr el Nil Bridge, a Sufi lodge (Shahin al-Khalwati’s khanqa) built into the side of a cliff in Mokattam, the “village de Guesirah” (possibly Gezira Island), and a general view of the city. Other cities shown include Luxor (a street scene), Alexandria (after the 1882 bombardment), and Tell el-Kebir (showing its cemetery).
Over ten photographs are of the Suez Canal. Several show the construction of the canal and ships passing through. They also include views of Suez (as Port Tewfik), Port Said, and El Qantara (“avec la ponte,” a floating ferry bridge). One photograph shows the Suez Company (1858-1997) offices in Ismailia
Over twenty photographs are portraits and street scenes showing Egyptian people. They show merchants and grocers, an ox-drawn plough and farmers, sugarcane vendors, a litter being carried by two camels, men on a barque “à Jaffa,” and a group of “sakas” by the Nile. They also include portraits of a Nubian family at their camp and two Nubian men on camels.
There are also several photographs of ancient sites in Egypt, including the Pyramids of Giza, Karnak Temple, the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, the Colossus of Rameses II in Memphis, and the Philae temple complex.
Overall, a lively collection of photographs showing contemporary Egypt in the late 19th century.
