Egypt in 1929
Magnificent collection of 191 photogravures of Pharonic and Islamic monuments and sites in Cairo and Upper Egypt.
In 2 folders
A particularly atmospheric and well-preserved collection of 191 photogravures, arranged in two folders, documenting a journey to Egypt undertaken around New Year‘s Eve 1929. The images present a vivid visual record of a Nile voyage by houseboat, capturing both the celebrated monuments and some evocative land-scapes encountered along the route. All prints are carefully mounted on white embossed card, giving the ensemble a uniform and elegant presentation that reflects the refined touristic albums of the late 1920s. The series begins in Cairo, with sweeping views of the city, including impressive perspectives of the Citadel and some urban scenes. Further photographs depict the monumental plateau of Giza, with detailed studies of the pyramids and the Sphinx, rendered in rich tonal gradations typical of high-quality photo-gravure printing. The journey then follows the Nile southwards.
Particularly striking are the sequences from Luxor and Karnak, where the camera dwells on colossal temple columns, avenues of sphinxes, and dramatic architectural fragments bathed in light and shadow. These views alternate between wide panoramas and carefully composed details, emphasizing the grandeur of ancient Egyptian architecture while also capturing the mood of the sites as experienced by travelers of the time. The photogravures convey a strong sense of atmosphere, combining documentary interest with a picturesque sensibility characteristic of travel imagery from the period.
The photographs are consistently well preserved, the mounts clean and stable, and the tonal quality of the prints remarkably rich. Taken together, the collection forms an extensive and coherent visual narrative of a Nile journey at the end of the 1920s, illustrating both the enduring fascination with Egypt‘s ancient monu-ments and the experience of travel along the river during the golden age of winter tourism.
Our bibliographic and archival services for libraries and museums:
For cataloguing and digital availa-bility the collection can be supplied with an electronic inventory in Excel and/or PDF format, as well as high-resolution digital reproductions of each photograph, facilitating scholarly access, documentation, and integration into institutional collections.
08.09.2026 - 11:16
4500,- EUR
Gerlach Books & Ex Oriente Lux Rare Books
