#PA76ab
Ca. 1907-1908
Two albums. Each Octavo (ca. 15 x 20.5 cm or 5 ¾ x 8 in). 24 cardstock leaves (12 each, one with four leaves blank). 79 (48 + 31) platinum? photographs ca. 8.5 x 6 cm (3 ¼ x 2 ¼ in) mounted in windows. All photos with period ink captions in French on mounts. Period brown pebbled cloth albums with gilt-tooled generic title “Kodak Souvenirs” on front cover; gilt edges. Very good albums with lively interesting photos.
An attractive collection of well-preserved original gelatin silver photographs showing the aftermath of the Bombardment of Casablanca (1907), during the following French occupation. The bombardment was part of the French conquest of Morocco (1907-1934) and allowed France to establish a western front, in addition to the eastern front created earlier in Oujda. The collection was likely compiled by a French officer.
The collection contains photographs with general views of Casablanca, all post-bombardment, including the gate of Marrakesh; Mosquée Ould el-Hamra; the Koubba of Marabout Sidi Beylout; the city’s port; a branch of the State Bank of Morocco; the mellah (Jewish quarter); and the neighbourhood of Tnaker.
Other photographs include a French field hospital set up in Casablanca; the French camp; and the SS Nive, a French transport ship that wrecked near the coast of Casablanca in 1907. There are also snapshots of Moroccan cavaliers, prisoners, labourers, potters, merchants, and fishers; a nafar (a horn player who wakes people up for the pre-dawn meal during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month); and scenes from the mellah, with Jewish cobblers and children. One photo is of the uncle of Morocco’s sultan, either Abdelaziz (1881-1943) or his successor and brother Abd al-Hafid (1875-1937), visiting the French field hospital.
Overall, a lively collection of photographs from the French occupation of Casablanca after the Bombardment of 1907.
