China-Russian Railway

Oblong 4to (215 x 285mm.), 47 glossy silver prints (10: 135 x 175mm., 37: 87 x 115mm.; or the reverse), mounted on card, recto and verso, later green cloth album, occasional creases or minor wear to images, slight wear to album

Together with a second album of 12 small photographs (65 x 90mm.), documenting the engineer's travels in Madagascar, later black cloth (178 x 255mm.)

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."

In 1896 China granted permission to Russia to build a railway in Manchuria, that would provide a shortcut for the Trans-Siberian railway, from near the Siberian city of Chita, across Manchuria via Harbin to the Russian port of Vladivostok.

Construction of the railway began in July 1897 along the line east of Chita, and the first album contains rare photographs taken by and/or compiled by a French railway engineer who arrived in Manchuria in 1897 to work on the project. The images show views of Vladivostok (including ships, and the railway yard and docks), engineers and officials at Mukden (Shenyang), Orthodox priests, the church and girls school at Mukden, various views of the China East railway construction in Manchuria, Russian soldiers, rural scenes and houses, and a paddle steamer of the China Eastern Company.

LIST OF THE 47 PHOTOGRAPHS

taken by a French engineer hired by the Russian company (China East Railway - К.В.Ж.Д.) in order to build the Chinese Far East Railway (Китайско-Восточная железная дорога) a 2536km railway that links Vladivostok, Harbin ( 哈尔滨), Changchun (长春 ), Moukden (Shenyang - 沈阳), Anshan (鞍山), Dalian (大连), Port-Arthur (Порт Артур - Lüshunkou - 旅顺口)

1. Voluntary fleet, Vladivostok, 1897 ("Navire de la flotte volontaire russe")

2. Harbour and train station, Vladivostok, 1897 ("Vladivostok")

3. Harbour of Vladivostok, 1897 ("Panorama de Vladivostok") 

4. Locomotive, Vladivostok station, 1897 ("Chemin de fer de l’Est chinois, locomotive Baldwin") 

5. Two Chinese citizens, Manchuria, 1897 ("Deux Tatares")

6. Chinese interior, kang, Manchuria, 1897

7. Engineers and official, Shenyang, Liaoning province, 1897

8. Two Orthodox priests, Mukden, (Shenyang), 1897 ("Moukden")

9. Mukden church, 1897 ("Moukden, Eglise")

10. Girls’ school, Mukden, (Shenyang), 1897

11. Lighthouse, Vladivostok, 1897 ("Phare Vladivostok") 

12. Engineers, officials and workers, Manchuria, 1897 China East railway construction, Manchuria, 1897

13. China East railway construction, Manchuria, 1897

14. China East railway construction, Manchuria, 1897

15. China East railway construction, Manchuria, 1897

16. China East railway construction, Manchuria, 1897

17. China East railway construction, Manchuria, 1897 (Note: К.В.Ж.Д. written on the waggon)

18. China East railway construction, Manchuria, 1897

19. China East railway construction, Manchuria, 1897 (Note : К.В.Ж.Д. written on the waggon)

20. China East railway station, Manchuria, 1897

21. China East railway station and officials, Manchuria, 1897

22. China East railway, Manchuria, 1897

23. French engineer with Russian officer, workers in the back, Manchuria, 1897

24. Russian soldiers and officers, Manchuria, 1897

25. China East railway train, Manchuria, 1897

26. China East railway, two trains, Manchuria, 1897

27. Russian Pope and citizens, 1897

28. CER locomotive, 1897

29. Manchu people and cattle, Manchuria, 1897

30. Manchu people and horses, Manchuria, 1897

31. Engineer, Manchu people and horses, Manchuria, 1897

32. Manchu people and yacks, Manchuria, 1897

33. Russian soldiers, Manchuria, 1897

34. Engineers and officials inspecting site, Manchuria, 1897

35. Chinese workers, Manchuria, 1897

36. Mukden Imperial Palace and Tomb, Shenyang, Liaoning province, 1897 ("Tombeau impérial à Moukden")

37. Mukden Imperial Palace Tomb (?), Shenyang, Liaoning province, 1897
("Tombeau impérial à Moukden")

38. Manchuria countryside, 1897

39. Manchuria country inn, 1897 ("Auberge")

40. Manchuria country inn, 1897

41. Orthodox church in construction, Manchuria (?), 1897

42. Russian citizens near Vladivostok (?), 1897

43. Russian shelter, Russia, 1897

44. Farm, Russia, 1897 ("Ferme")

45. Ferry on river, Manchuria, 1897

46. Low tide near Port-Arthur (?), Dalian, 1897

47. Boat of the China Eastern Company, China, 1897 ("Bateau de la Compagnie de l’Est Chinois")