Lot 70
Large Album - Photographs of Palestine - Brothers Zangaki and Felix Bonfils - Jerusalem, Late 19th Century
Album a photographies de la Terre Sainte arrangées par Boulos Méo Jérusalem [Photo-album from the Holy Land, arranged by Boulos Méo, Jerusalem]. Jerusalem: Boulos Méo, [late 19th century].
Album with 48 photographs of sites in Palestine, among them the Old City of Jerusalem (Jaffa Gate, Dome of the Rock, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and more), Rachel's Tomb, Jordan River, Jaffa Port, and more. Most photographs were taken by the brothers Adelphi and Constantine Zangaki and are signed and titled in the plate. Two photographs were taken by Felix Bonfils (interior of the Dome of the Rock and a photograph of worshippers at the Western Wall).
The album is bound in a fine olive-wood binding, with a leather spine. On the front - a carved Jerusalem cross surrounded by a colorful frame created using miniature pieces of wood. On the back - the word "Jerusalem" (printed) in a frame identical to the one on the front binding.
The album was published by Boulos Méo, a store near Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem, established in 1872 by a family of Italian origin. Boulos Méo was opened as a store for Persian carpets and later expanded and sold antiquities, postcards, photo albums and various souvenirs from Palestine.
48 photographs, mounted on both sides of the thick album leaves. Album: approx. 36X28 cm. Gilt edges. Good-fair condition. Several detached leaves. Some faded photographs. Stains (mainly at margins of leaves and tissue guards). Tears to margins of several leaves and tissue guards (some tissue guards are detached or partly detached). Slight defects to binding. Tears to spine and corners.
