Chapman, Captain (later General Sir) Edward Francis

89 ALBUMEN PRINTS (average 105 x 170mm.), many numbered in Roman numerals in the negative, a few initialled by "E.C." in the negative, individually mounted on thick card (287 x 228mm., one mount cropped to image), recto only, each captioned or annotated on the mount in ink and numbered 1-97 (with a few gaps in the sequence), some light dust-soiling and stains

H. Leach and S.M. Farrington. Strolling About on the Roof of the World (London, 2003), pp.133-136

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."

CHAPMAN'S OWN ANNOTATED SET OF HIS RARE PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN ON THE FORSYTH MISSION TO YARKAND AND KASHGAR (1873-1874). "THESE WERE THE FIRST TO BE TAKEN OF 'NATIVE' SOCIETY IN CHINESE TURKESTAN, AND ARE OF CONSIDERABLE HISTORICAL AND ETHNOGRAPHIC INTEREST." (Leach)

In 1869 the Amir of Yarkand and Kashgar, wishing to establish good relations between his country and India, sent an envoy to the viceroy to request that a British officer might be deputed to visit him. Sir Douglas Forsyth was accordingly instructed to travel with the envoy in order to acquire information about the people and the country. The journey to Lahore and back, a distance of two thousand miles, was accomplished in six months. The expedition was warmly received in Yarkand and was given permission to travel freely in the area.

"Chapman was captain in the Quarter Master General's Department in Lucknow, and was appointed Secretary of the Forsyth Mission, with responsibility for administration and transport. He faced the daunting task of organising the passage of "300 souls and 400 animals" along the Karakoram caravan route from Leh to Yarkand, across four of the highest passes in the world, in below-freezing temperatures. The ostensible purpose of the Mission... was to negotiate a commercial treaty with Yakub Beg who in 1867 had established himself as the independent ruler of much of Chinese Turkestan. The unstated purpose of the exercise was to counter the spread of Russian influence in a region flanking India's Northern Frontier. Before joining the Mission, Chapman took a crash course in photography with Messrs Bourne and Shepherd in Simla, where he later sent his negatives for printing (110 in all, including a few taken by Henry Trotter)." (Leach)

Chapman and Trotter's photographs, in the form of 102 hand-mounted albumen prints were used to illustrate Forsyth's now rare Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873 (Calcutta, 1875).