Octavo (ca. 21 x 17.5 cm or 8 ¼ x 6 ¾ in). 92 paper leaves (three blank). Over 130 mounted albumen cartes-de-visite ca. 10 x 5.5 cm (3 ¾ x 2 in). Over 10 photographs with period print captions on recto. All photographs with period ink captions on mounts. Over 45 pieces of ephemera from ca. 20 x 16 cm (7 ¾ x 6 ¼ in) to 9.5 x 6.5 cm (3 ¾ x 2 ½ in). Period green quarter sheep album with cloth boards. Rubbing on extremities of front and back covers, rubbing on edges of spine; mounts slightly waved and age-toned, several mounts with minor tearing on extremities not affecting images; a few photos mildly faded, two photographs previously removed from album; but overall a good album.

A rare, early, interesting and extensively annotated large collection of original albumen cartes-de-visite photos of European cities and rare printed travel and cultural ephemera, likely compiled by an American on a grand tour of Italy, Austria, Bavaria (modern-day Germany), France, and Britain. The materials date between December 1869 and May 1870, shortly before the start of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) and the conclusion of the unification of Germany (1871).

Over half of the album shows Italy. Over 25 photographs show Rome. Many are of historic sites, including Pincian Hill, the Colosseum, the Temple of Mars Ultor, the Temple of Vespasian and Titus, the Temple of Castor and Pollux, and the Claudian Aqueduct. Other locations in Rome shown are the Roman Ghetto, the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, the Santa Monica Maggiore, and the Piazza del Campidoglio. Over 35 photographs show other cities in Italy, including Florence (San Miniato al Monte Basilica, Ponte Vecchio, Fiesole, etc.) Venice (Saint Mark’s Square, the Grand Canal, the Bridge of Sighs, Ponte de Riatto), Ravenna (Basilica of San Vitale, mausoleum of Theodoric the Great), Siena (Siena Cathedral) Perugia (Piazza IV Novembre), and Bologna (the Two Towers).

Several photographs are from central Europe. Four are of Austria, showing Vienna (the Vienna State Opera House, shortly after its completion in May 1869; St. Stephen’s Cathedral) and Gratz (Schlossberg). Nine photographs show Nuremburg (Petersen’s House, Albrecht Dürer’s House, St. Lorenz Church) and Passau (the Veste Oberhaus and nearby suspension bridge) in Bavaria. Twelve photographs are of France, showing Paris (Place du Carousel, Place du Châtelet, July Column, street views) and Strasbourg (the Strasbourg Cathedral).

Over 25 photographs show Britain, including London (Palace of Westminster (Parliament), Westminster Abbey, London Tower, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Crystal Palace) , Oxford (High Street, Martyrs’ Memorial, rowing on the River Thames), York (York Minster, the city walls, Lendal Bridge), Stratford-on-Avon (Holy Trinity Church), and various country estates (Warwick Castle, Kenilworth Castle, Stoneleigh Abbey, etc.).

There are also over 45 pieces of ephemera found in the album. They include business cards from the hotels the compiler stayed at over the course of the trip (Hotel Anglo American, Chatsworth Hotel, List’s Hotel zum Elefanten, Hotel de la Maison Rouge, etc.), leaflets from religious services (a schedule for different services occurring during Holy Week; an advertisement for public meetings discussing the Gospel, etc.), concert pamphlets (one in Rome, featuring George Leitert and Olga Janina; a leaflet and ticket for Concerts Populaires (Pasdeloup Orchestra, the oldest symphony orchestra in France); a program for the first Grand Summer Concert at the Crystal Palace, London, etc.), and several cards for shops in Paris. Additionally, there are several dried plant specimens taken from the places the compiler visited.