“THE MIDDLE EAST EXERTED AN IRRESISTIBLE ATTRACTION”

LANGAHI. Photograph Collection of Egypt with Four Vintage Albumen Prints. Egypt, circa 1900. Four vintage albumen prints (each measuring 8-1/2 by 11 inches): two mounted, two window-matted (total measuring 13-/12 by 16 inches). $1200.

Scarce collection, circa 1900, of four exhibition-size vintage albumen prints of Egypt by Langahi, with views of Nubian tribal people, serene landscapes and a striking print of the Temple of Isis at Philae at its original site, each print captioned and signed in the negative.

In the last half of the19th century "the Middle East exerted an irresistible attraction" to much of Europe. "It was in Egypt that the first resident photographic studios were opened," encouraging the work of photographers such as Langahi, whose work is featured in this scarce collection of four exhibition-size vintage albumen prints (Frizot, 161). Herein is Langahi's wonderful portrait of Nubian women and children, a landscape of rushing waters at the Assouan (Aswan) Cataract, a lyrical view of the "Ruins de Cleopatre" at Elephantine Islands, and an impressive print of the Temple of Isis at Philae, in its original location. The Temple would so often be threatened by flooding after completion of the 1902 Lower Aswan Dam that it has since been dismantled and reassembled at Agilkai. Four large vintage albumen prints from glass negatives, signed and captioned in the negative: two window-matted and two mounted on heavy ivory card stock. Library inkstamps to mat verso. Contemporary inscriptions to two mat versos.

Prints fresh and clean, light edge-wear and faint soiling to mats. An important collection in near-fine condition.