Persia and Caucasus. Album of photographs, circa 1908-09

PERSIA AND THE CAUCASUS

Album of photographs, c. 1908-1909.

Oblong folio (270 x 345mm.), c. 410 photographs, comprising 40 large (from 145 to 220mm. to 260 x 340mm.) and 370 small (from 55 x 85mm. to 155 x 110mm.), various processes including matt and gloss silver prints and platinum?, together with a few postcards, mounted on card, recto and verso, French manuscript captions in ink on most openings, contemporary red cloth-backed decorated card covers, bound with two brass bolt fixings, some fading and wear, minor dust-soiling and spotting, binding slightly rubbed

RARE PHOTOGRAPHS OF PERSIA compiled by a French diplomat in c. 1908-09. The album begins with photographs of Samsun and Trabzon in Turkey, followed by images of Baku, the consulate in Rasht (Persia), views along the journey from Rasht to Tehran, a Renard steam train, early motor cars and transport, the French legation in Tehran and views of other main buildings, the Shah's palace, street scenes, arriving at the ministry in June 1908, views of the interior of their house in Tehran with domestic scenes, picnics, riding, at church, visiting the Russian legation, four views of Mashad and its mosque, scenes of the aftermath of the June 1908 bombardment of the Majlis, with various legations of Austria, Germany, and Turkey, snow scenes in Tehran, formal photographs with officials and Persian officers, and images of diplomatic life in Tehran.