Lot 349
Abyssinian expedition--Royal Engineers.
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 5 September 2007 at 12:00 BST
Description
70 albumen prints documenting the 1867-68 Abyssinia expedition, comprising 10 prints reproducing sketches by Mr Holmes, Major Baigrie and Mr Simpson, 5 of Coptic manuscripts and other artefacts, the others of Annesley bay, Zoualla, Koomayli pass, camp at Senafe, naval brigade at Goon-Goona, rocks and waterfall at Goon-Goona, Focada camp, church of Miriam, Focada, Addigerat castle, church at Addigerat, after thunder-storm Addigerat camp, tower and brick fort near Adabaga, Antalo village & church, Meshek valley, Alagi Amba, Bolago camp, mountain at Bolago, Lake Ashangi, village near Ashangi, Tellari River, Tacazzee river, Djedda river & N. scarp, Upper scarp Bashelo River, Magdala, Kokit-bar gate Magdala, King Theodore's house, Treasury, Church, Interior of Magdala, Kafir-Bur gate Magdala, Sir R. Napier & staff, Sir C. Staveley and staff, Brig. Gen. Schneider & staff, Dr. Currie & medical staff, Kassai's P.M. and followers, Queen of the Gallas and son, G. Battery at Durbagh, Son and heir of King Theodore, Capt. Speedy, released prisoners x 3, Col. Penn's battery, Belooch regiment, Abyssinian fiddler, Gen. Petrie & staff, 4 images of Abyssinian bible, Sir R. Napier and officers, funeral procession of Lt. Morgan RE, grave of Lt. Morgan RE, graves of Col. Dunn and Lt.Bayly, 10th Company RE camp Upper Sooroo, including 3 two-piece panoramas and 2 three-piece panoramas, from 11 x 15cm to 18 x 74cm., mounted on thin card, panoramas backed on linen, captions written in ink, [1867-68], some slight fading, mostly to margins, slight spotting to card, nineteenth century green half morocco, rubbed
Footnote
Note: This Series of Photographs was not published, a few copies being obtainable through the personal interest of officers of the regiment. Royal Engineers chief photographer Sergeant Harrald and his staff accompanied the four-month expedition under the command of Sir Robert Napier to free British captives held hostage by Emperor Theodore of Abyssinia. A near identical album of photographs was sold at Bloomsbury, lot 430, 20th June 2002, this copy however does not have the manuscript table of contents with printed heading, nor the printed title slip below each photograph.
With a one page autograph note signed from H.M. Stanley to [Charles] Danford, on lined note paper "all true about Abyssinia. I am going on a tramp so distant, so very distant, to such an interesting country. If I ever should come back I will be a notorious fellow. Don't you want to go. If you should come to London call at the Queen & we will have a glass together, Queen's Hotel, 17 1/68, War Cor. N.Y. Herald", [c.14x 11cm], somewhat soiled and frayed. Stanley published an account of the expedition in Coomassie and Magdala: The Story of Two British Campaigns in Africa, 1884
Provenance: Charles George Danford, a great friend of John George Young, grandfather of the vendor.