Caucasus--Photographs.

2 volumes, oblong folio (282 x 385mm.) and folio (314 x 252mm.), comprising a total of 188 silver gelatin prints (82 x 82mm. or 115 x 86mm., or the reverse), nearly all captioned in black ink in German on the mount, approximately 60 duplicated between the albums, and 36 albumen prints by Russian or Georgian (?) studios, (mostly approx. 165 x 210 or 165 x 230mm.; one 220 x 275mm.), captioned and signed in Russian in the negative or with German captions, together with 8 studio portraits of natives of the region (approx. 140 x 100mm.), oblong folio: contemporary grey cloth-backed marbled boards, upper cover lettered in gilt, folio: contemporary green cloth, upper cover lettered in gilt

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

rare photographs of dagestan and kakheti, and surrounding regions, of considerable cultural and ethnographic interest, documenting a journey through remote areas of the Caucasus; a region difficult to access and thus rarely photographed due to the rugged mountainous terrain, hostilities between various ethnic groups and Russian involvement. The original amateur photographs are by an unidentified German and the professional photographs, many by Abuladze, are extremely rare due to the lack of tourism and thus the small commercial market at the time. Some photographs bear pencil or other markings, indicating that they were perhaps selected for publication. The photographs, nearly all identified, include villages, people in local costume, landscape studies of mountains, snow-capped passes, ravines, rivers, bridges, waterfalls, fortified towns, ruins, monasteries, mosques, a column of mounted troops, and the main residence and Palace of Shaki Khan, built in 1761-1762 in grand Islamic style.