#PD21
Ca. 1890s
Folio (ca. 35.5 x 29 cm or 14 x 11 ¼ in). 52 double paper leaves. 78 mounted albumen photos from ca. 21.5 x 22 cm (8 ¼ x 8 ¾ in) to 27.5 x 21.5 cm (10 ¾ x 8 ¼ in). 10 captioned and/or numbered in negative. Early 20th century grey full cloth album; marbled endpapers; binder’s paper label on the front pastedown endpaper. Several mounts with minor tears or losses not affecting images; about twenty photos with minor abrasions to the corners, a couple of photos mildly faded; but overall a very good album of interesting photos.
An attractive unusual collection of large, well-preserved albumen studio photographs of ancient Egyptian temples, with a focus on their bas-reliefs.
Sixty-eight of the photographs document various stone reliefs: the Revival of Osiris (Temple of Seti I, Abydos), Ramesses IV offering the first fruit of the season to Khonsu (Temple of Khonsu, Karnak), Ptolemy VIII being crowned by Nekhbet and Wadjet (Temple of Horus at Edfu), Thoth and Horus purifying Ptolemy XII (Temple of Kom Ombo), Augustus making an offering to Iris and Horus (Temple of Kalabsha), Ramesses III making an offering to Min-Amun (Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III, Medinet Habu), Thoth and Horus purifying Hapshepsut (Sanctuary of Sacred Boats, Karnak), and many more. The other photographs include views of the First Pylon and statues of Ramesses II at Luxor Temple, the Great Hypostyle Hall in Karnak, and other columns, statues, and entrances.
Overall, an impressive collection of well-preserved photographs documenting ancient Egyptian bas-reliefs.
