Catalog: Traditional Collectibles: Ephemera: Photographs (42)

An albumen photograph of the Kas Mahal, the Royal residence inside the Red Fort at Agra built by Shah Jahan from 1632 to 1640. The photo shows the building and in the distance on the right the Taj Mahal. Signed in the negative, “Rust,” and possibly with the number 8. Also, on the reverse is the photographer’s stamp. Thomas A. Rust (English, 1841-1904). The image is 8 x 9 7/8 inches (20.5 x 25 cm)...

Albumen photograph of the quay from across the water at Port Said with what is, I think, the light house that was built in 1869 and architecturally important because of the early, if not the first, use of reinforced concrete. Written in the negative, lower left, “Lankaki” and lower right, “Quai du Port Said.” The Zangaki brothers who often wrote Langaki were among the early photographers of Egypt. Photograph mounted on thin card and matted. Image 8 5/8 x 11 1/8 inches (22 x 28.5 cm)...

Albumen photograph depicting the city of Damascus in the distance with a town in the middle distance and a man standing in a graveyard toward the foreground. Written in the negative lower left, “Bonfils” and lower right, “402. Damas-Vue general de Damas prise de ‘Sulkirk’(?)” Laid on paper and matted. Image 8 ¾ x 11 ¾ inches (22 x 30 cm). Mat 16 x 20 inches (40.5 x 51 cm). Felix Bonfils (French 1831-1885) was one of the early photographers of the Middle East...

A well composed albumen photograph of the Mosque of Sultan Sulieman with the Golden Horn in the distance. In the distance to the very far left of the photograph is the Hagia Sophia. In the golden Horn are both sailing ships and steamers. Written in pencil on the mount in the lower left is, “Constnatinople/Mosque of Sultan Suleyman/& the Golden Horn.” The image is 6 x8 inches (15 x20 cm)...

An albumen photograph of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque also known as the “Blue Mosque” in Istanbul (Constantinople), Turkey by Pascal Sebah taken circa 1880. The photograph is 10 ¼ by 13 ¼ inches (26 by 33.5 cm). It is mounted with clear photo corners in a 16 by 20 inch mat (40.5 by 50 cm). Printed on the photograph from the negative in the lower left, “58. Mosquee Sultan Akmed” and in the lower right “P Sebah.”

Condition; generally excellent...

An oversize albumen photograph of the exterior of the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul by the photographer Pascal Sebah. The view is taken from outside a stone wall pierced with grilled windows. The monumental structure rises behind the wall. Pascal Sebah (1823-1886) was born in Constantinople. His photographic studio there opened in 1857. In the lower left in the negative, “68. Mosquee St. Sophia” and lower right “P. Sebah.” The image is 10 ¼ x 13 1/8 inches (26 x 33 cm)...

An oversize albumen photograph of the exterior front of the Beylerbeyi Palace on the Bosporus Strait in Istanbul. The palace was built from 1861 to 1865 as an Imperial summer residence. The photograph is by Pascal Sebah. In the lower left in the negative, “38. Palais du Sultan a Beyler Bey,” on the lower right also in the negative, “P...

An interesting view of the monumental Hagia Sophia rising above houses on either side and a man standing in a square(?) that is probably some distance from the mosque but with the perspective appears quite close. No writing in the negative and the identification of the view in pencil appears later than the image which is around 1880. It is attached to a thin paper page that from the roughness of the back side might have been an album page that was separated. The mat is protective. The image is 7...

An albumen photograph of Cairo titled on the mat, “CAIRO, FORM THE CITADEL,WITH THE MOSQUE OF SULTAN HASSAN.” Also in smaller type the number648. An excellent print with good tones. 5 7/8 by 8 1/8 inches (15 by20.5cm). The white light cardboard stock is shaded slightly darker for about one inch around the photo. Overall size is 12 inches by 15 inches (30.5 by 38 cm).

Condition; The photo is in excellent condition with minor surface scratches. The mount is soiled, has minor foxing and th...

An albumen photograph circa 1880 of a man feeding a group of dogs gathered at his feet. In the lower left printed in the negative, Abdullah Freres. 515” and in the lower right, “Les Chiens des rues.” The image is 7 7/8 inches (20 cm) by 10 1/8 inches (25.7 cm). It is presently corner mounted in a large mat 17 inches (43 cm) by 14 inches (35.5 cm). The tones are rich and the contrast good.

Condition: In a raking light three lines that look like partial creases are visible. A few printi...

Albumen photograph mounted on a stiff card with the title, “Interior of Carlee Caves” written in ink below the image. The Karla Caves are a group of ancient Indian Buddhist rock-cut caves located in Karli near Lonavala, Maharashtra. The one pictured is the Great Chaitya. It was dedicated in 120 CE. The photographer of this image is unknown. The image is 7 ½ x 9 3/8 inches (19 x 24 cm) The card is 11 x 14 inches (28 35.5 cm).

Condition: The image is in excellent condition with minor surf...

Albumen photograph mounted on a card and titled in ink in script under it, “Bheel women grinding Bajri.” The Bhil are a large group of people from west India including Gujarat where pearl millet is called bijri. The photograph shows a group of men and women including a woman seated by a grinding stone posing for the photograph. The image is 7 5/8 x 9 3/8 inches (19.3 x 24 cm) and the card 11 x 14 inches (28 x 35,5 cm).

Condition: the image is in very good condition. The card is rough aro...

A landscape albumen photograph of Darjeeling India. Titled in script in the negative, “534. Darjeeling. General view with the Snows(?) from Woodland’s Hotel.” Presumably, “the Snows” are the snow-covered peaks of the Himalayas that show more as a line of clouds, but are visible in the distance. The details of the image are sharp at the center, but blur slightly at the edges.

Condition: slight surface dings to the image. The contrast and the browns are good with a slight yellowing ...

Two albumen photographs of the Tomb of Itimad-ud-Dualah at Agra, India. Neither is signed and though they are probably by different photographers they complement each other as one is a close up of the tomb while the other gives it some context in the surrounding garden.

The longer view is 8 5/8 (22 cm) by 11 3/8 (29 cm) inches with a card 14 (35.5 cm) by 17 (43 cm) inches. It is laid down to the cardboard.

The close up is attached to a larger piece of paper with a line of glue at the to...

An albumen photograph of the Kas Mahal in the center and portion of the Anguri Bagh in the foreground. This view is of part of the Agra Fort. I’m not sure but I think the Taj Mahal is just visible on the far right above the roof of the building. The image is 8 3/4 (22 cm) by 11 ½ (29 cm) inches. The card is 14 (35.5 cm) by 17 (43 cm) inches. The image is signed in the negative “Sache/215.” John Edward Sache was active from 1865 to 1882.

Condition: Good clear print, but the image must ...

An albumen photograph of the upper portion of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India fully laid down on cardboard stock. The blind stamp, “FRITH’S/SERIES” is in the lower left corner. The image is 6 3/8 (16 cm) by 8 ¼ (21 cm) inches. The card is 10 (25.5 cm) by 12 (30.5 cm) inches. In pencil on the back in the lower left is written, “3067 The Taj Agra India.” Francis Frith commissioned and bought from other photographers for his series.

Condition: Generally very good with a few spots in t...

An oversize albumen photograph of a carriage on a narrow bridge with the rising spray from Niagara Falls visible in the distance. I am reasonably confident that this a bridge connecting Goat Island to the river bank on the American side or possibly a bridge connecting Goat Island to one of the Three Sisters. It was likely taken and printed by George Barker, though no title or name is on either the front of the image or on the back of the mount. The image is 16 inches (40.5 cm) tall by 19 inches ...

Albumen photograph mounted on grey stock of a shallow pool in the foreground the ruins of some walls and columns in the middle and Vesuvius in the distance. A very well printed image with deep contrasts in tones. The image is from around 1875. 7 9/16 tall by 10 3/16 inches (19.5 x 26 cm). Card 13 by 16 inches (33 x 40.5 cm).

Condition; Generally excellent with a few surface scratches. The plate had a few losses that were colored in before printing.

A very good quality image, found with...