Eleven original gelatin silver and four original albumen photos, mostly from ca. 15x20,5 cm (6x8 in) to ca. 11,5x16,5 cm (4 ½ x 6 ½ in), one smaller photo is ca. 7,5x20,5 cm (3x8 in). All photos are mounted on original studio card from ca. 26x32,5 cm (10 ¼ x 12 ¾ in) to ca. 10x20,5 cm (4x8 in); twelve mounts with original printed decorative frames; thirteen with the studio ink stamps “J. da C.A. Coimbra, S. Pedro da Chibia, Mossamedes” on verso. All but one photo with period pencil or ink captions in Portuguese and French on verso; two are also dated “1888.” Mounts with larger or smaller water stains on extremities not affecting the images, one mount with a tear on the upper margin not affecting the image, a few photos  faded, but overall a very good collection of interesting photos.

Historically significant collection of fifteen rare early photos, taken in the recently founded towns of San Pedro da Chibia (Chibia) and Lubango, in the Mossamedes district of Portuguese West Africa (modern-day southern Angola). Both towns were established in 1885 as part of the Portuguese colonial government’s large-scale attempt to settle the interior of Angola during the 1880s’ Scramble for Africa. Simultaneously, this area was settled by Transvaal Boers who first arrived in Humpata, about 20 to 25 miles west of both Chibia and Lubango, in 1881-1883. The Boers constituted the region's majority population until the Great Trek from Angola in 1928, when a large number of settlers repatriated to South Africa.

The photos include views of Lubango (church, barracks of the Dragoons of Angola), Chibia (streets, yards, white “travailleurs” in front of a house, a nearby waterfall), and one individual and three group portraits of native Angolans (“gentias”) wearing traditional costumes, armed with spears, or playing drums. A very interesting photo depicts a Boer oxen-driven wagon near Chibia; it features a Boer man, his wife, and two children, and their household items are visible in the wagon. Two photographs apparently depict Portuguese military expeditions to suppress native uprisings in the area and portray “Commandante e officeiras da colunna em operacoes” and “Major Silva” with native porters. All but two photographs bear the ink stamps of one “J. da C.A. Coimbra,” whose studio was located in Chibia. Overall an interesting, rare collection of early original photos of towns, Portuguese military, native people and Boer settlers in the interior of southern Angola in the late 19th century.

A list of captions: Lubango – Igreja; Lubango – Quartellos Dragões; Lubango – Rua de babaneiras que conduz ao Quartel; Chibia – une rue; Chibia – le cour de la […?] de Coimbra; Chibia – Catadupa do Rio “Tehinpumpunhinve;” Chibia – Carrode de Boer; Chibia – uma guerrilha de gentias; Um batuquede gentias da Chibia, 1898; Chibia, travailleurs; Gentio de Chibia ; Guerra de […?], 1898 – Commandante e officeiras da colunna em operacoes; Major Silva […]; […?] ambulantes […?].