Beschreibung:

FRITH, Francis (1822-1898). A collection of 143 albumen prints bound in three volumes: “Sinai & Arabia Petra”, “Jerusalem & Palestine”, “Egypt & Athens”. [London: 1860s-1870s.] A selection of views, buildings and monuments in the Holy Land and the Near East , drawn from Frith’s stock of more than 350 subjects on this theme – his most important work. Some of the same subjects were collected in his publications of the 1860s, first in two volumes then expanded to four volumes through various editions. The titles are taken from the binding spines. Cf. Gernsheim Incunabula 195; The Photobook , vol. I, p.28; The Truthful Lens 64. 143 albumen prints (most c.210 x c.155mm or the reverse) bound into three folio volumes (370 x 302mm), comprising 38 prints in the first volume, 58 in the second and 47 in the third; each print mounted on card with a tinted border [some blind-stamped “Published by Frith, Reigate”], most with a printed caption and reference number in the bottom margin, others with captions and numbers supplied in pencil in a contemporary hand (variable scattered spotting, mostly in the margins but occasionally reaching into the image). Contemporary maroon half roan over green sand-grained cloth, the spines lettered in gilt, edges sprinkled red, marbled endpapers (extremities rubbed and scuffed, spines evenly faded to brown). Provenance : Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School (Bucknell Library bookplates, matching shelf marks on the binding spines; sold, Sotheby’s New York, 20 June 2003, lot 63).