#PF59
Ca. 1900s
Ca. 180 loose original gelatin silver photos, mostly from ca. 9x11,5 cm (3 ½ x 4 ½ in) to ca. 8x10 cm (3x4 in); ca. 30 images are from ca. 7x10 cm (2 ¾ x 4 in) to ca. 4x5,5 cm (1 ¾ x 2 ¼ in). Two images are captioned in negative (one also dated “22/8, 08” in negative); ca. 18 images with period pencil captions on the mounts. Occasional creases on extremities or corners, a few photos mildly faded, but overall a very good collection of strong interesting photos.
Interesting extensive collection of early original gelatin silver photos of German Southwest Africa (Namibia), apparently taken and collected by a German military officer during his service in the colony in ca. 1900s. Among the identified views are several images of the Garnison Lazarett (Hospital) in Windhoek, and the surrounding gardens; two photos of the hospital also feature the Schwerinsburg (Sperlinglust) castle on top of the hill in the background. Three images with pencil captions “Windhuk” on verso (as a part of longer captions) depict German Schutztruppe soldiers disembarking a train from Swakopmund to Windhoek, officers next to their field tent and a native Namibian woman. Pencil captions to four photos identify their locations as “Areb” (probably, Areb in the Khomas region southwest of Windhoek); captions to five photos identify their location as “Awabes.” There are also four photos of the Sesfontein Fort (Kunene Region of modern-day northwestern Namibia): a general view (captioned in negative) and three close-up views of the walls and one of the towers.
Other images show Schutztruppe forts and stations, tent camps, cavalry and soldiers on the move, German farms and homesteads, camels, cow herds, oxen- and donkey-driven wagons, Namibian hills, deserts and bush country, rivers and brooks, &c. A number of photos portray native Namibians wearing traditional outfits, families and children, women gathered for a ceremony, people getting water from a spring, peeling corn, riding donkeys, views of their villages, traditional round huts, &c. There are also portraits of German military men and their family members, posing inside or near their residences, with hunted or captured African animals and birds, &c. Overall an interesting, extensive collection of early original photos of Namibia and its people.
