Francis Frith

(London: William MacKenzie, n. d. [1860]), a volume containing 20 mammoth-plate albumen prints, many signed and dated in the negative, each mounted, with letterpress title and several with the photographer’s credit, with accompanying text by Mrs. Poole and Reginald Stewart Poole, 1858. Large folio, 1/4 green leather, gilt-lettered boards

Collection of a nobleman

Christie’s London, 19 October 1994, Sale 5265, Lot 52

Truthful Lens 62

This rare, complete example of Frith's 'Egypt, Sinai and Palestine' is remarkable for the strong print quality of its photographs. All of the photographs rate a 10, on a scale of 1 to 10, and have deep, nearly black, dark tones and highlights that retain all of their original detail. Even the first and final plates – which usually tend to suffer in 19th-century albums and books from being closer to any degrading environmental factors – maintain their strong print quality. There is complete lack of yellowing or edge-fading typically seen in any selection of 20 albumen prints. The plates are generally in very-good to excellent physical condition. When examined closely in high raking light, an occasional soft crease may be seen, or some unevenness in the glossy albumen surface. But these issues are not immediately discernible. There is some general light soiling on the preliminary pages and title. The mounts are generally clean, although several show some degree of light foxing, which does not appear to have affected any of the photographs. Two plates -- 'The Temple of El-Karnak, from the South-East' and 'Street View in Cairo' -- appear to have some evidence of mold on the reverse of their mounts, as well as some text offsetting. The images are only minimally affected. As is typical of this volume, which was issued with a gutta-percha binding, the plates are completely separated from the binding and from each other. The front cover and front free endpaper are fully detached from the plates, but remain fully attached to the spine leather. The covers show general wear, although the gilt lettering on the cover and spine maintains its bright appearance.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The plates included are as follows:

The Mosque of the Emeer Ákhór

The Pyramids of Dashoor, From the South-West

Jerusalem, From the Mount of Olives

The Rameseum of El-Kurneh, Thebes

The Pyramids of Dashoor, From the East

The Temple of Kóm-Umboo

The Pyramids of Sakkárah, From the North-East

The Temple of El-Karnak, From the South-East

The Mosque of Káitbéy

The Hypæthral Temple, Phile

Cairo, From the Citadel

The Pyramids of El-Geezeh, From the South-West

Cairo, from the Citadel (Second View)

Mount Serbál, From the Wádee Feyrán

Street View in Cairo

The Statues of the Plains, Thebes

The Great Pyramid and the Great Sphinx

The Rameseum of El-Kurneh, Thebes (Second View)

The Second Pyramid, From the South-East

Mount Horeb