"PHOTOGRAPHY'S CAPACITY TO 'TAKE THEM THERE'" (PARR & BADGER): RARE NEARLY NINE-FOOT LONG PHOTOGRAPHIC PANORAMA OF CONSTANTINOPLE IN 1882, CONSISTING OF TEN FOLIO VINTAGE ALBUMEN PRINTS, BY THE MIDEAST STUDIO OF CONSTANTINE FETTEL

(CONSTANTINOPLE) (ISTANBUL) FETTEL, Constantine J. Panorama de Constantinople [cover title]. (Constantinople: C.J. Fettel, 1882). Oblong folio (15 by 13 inches), original half red morocco, gilt-decorated red cloth, accordion-fold (leporello) panorama of ten vintage albumen prints (each measures 10-1/2 by 8-1/2 inches, for a total panoramic view of 8-3/4 feet); mounted on card stock, with cloth hinges. $5200.

Rare exceptionally large photographic panorama of Constantinople from 1882, by Constantine J. Fettel, with ten mounted vintage albumen prints linked together to offer a wonderful accordion-fold panoramic image of the city spanning nearly nine feet in length—an exceptional view of majestic mosques, churches and palaces—in original gilt-stamped cloth binding.

This splendid gilt-stamped Panorama album of Constantinople contains an exquisite accordion-fold panoramic view of the city, dated 1882 on the rear board. Created by the Mideast studio of Constantine J. Fettel, the album displays ten vintage albumen prints, each mounted on card stock and hinged with cloth to create a panorama 8-3/4 feet in length, offering an exquisite view of Constantinople's majestic palaces, mosques and churches, along with the rich splendor of Byzantine architecture. Photographic albums and panoramas such as this one supplied "evocative imagery to the increasing number of people who undertook the Victorian Grand Tour" (Hannavy, Encyclopedia of 19th-Century Photography I: 1730-4) and captivated a world newly spellbound "by photography's capacity to 'take them there,' and bring them directly in contact with the long ago and far away" (Parr & Badger I:18).

A bit of toning to the mounts only; light rubbing and darkening to cloth, gilt bright. Albumen prints in excellent condition. A near-fine copy of this splendid and large panorama.