- Lot 330

[H. COLON - "In the land of the pharaohs". S.l., 1910. In-4, [1]-III-141 ff. on lined paper, 1 photo reprod. and 138 original silver print photographs, most in sepia, various sizes, most c. 11 x 17 cm, pasted in full in the text. Half burgundy morocco with corners, covers of chagrined percaline of the same tone set with a double gilt fillet, title "L'égypte" gilt on the upper cover and on the spine with gilt fleuronné (period binding signed Dedoncker frères in ixelles). In a matching percaline case (some erasures, rare "silver mirrors" in the plates. Very good condition). Remarkable album and unpublished work realized in memory of a trip accomplished in family at the beginning of the years 1900. It is preceded by a moving dedication "to my two daughters Berthe and Marguerite" which tells us that Marguerite is established in Egypt. The author, apparently a wealthy Belgian tourist, has composed from his travel notes and numerous information drawn from his documentation a kind of historical and geographical guide of his own. Very readable and abundantly illustrated with superb pictures taken by the traveler (except 2 reproductions from books): views of monuments (the sphinx and the pyramids, Luxor, Memphis, Karnak, Valley of the Kings, rooms of the museum of Cairo, tomb of the caliphs, mosque of the sultan Hassan, etc.), picturesque scenes of the city and its surroundings, and the history of the city.), picturesque scenes (streets of Cairo, camel race, fishing boats, funeral procession, mobile kitchen, water elevator, camp of Bisharin, etc.) and portraits of the group of travelers at the foot of monuments, on donkey or dromedary, etc. In fine, a beautiful portrait of the author with his multiple decorations.