Alep et ses Environs.

A photographic hymn to Aleppo

First edition. 48 sepia photogravure plates, with captions in French and English. Oblong 8vo. Original pictorial wrappers, blue string tie; light wear to extremities, a few small stains and very light spotting to covers (and opening and closing leaves), otherwise very good. [3], [1]ad., [48]plates, [2]ads ff. Alep, Édition V. Derounian, 

A remarkable photographic record of Aleppo. The plates cover the great buildings of the city (including the Citadel and Great Mosque) and the vaulted streetscapes of small residences and bazaars. Certain images stand out for their classical framing and warmth, such as the glowing interior of a coppersmith's shop. Following the Aleppo images are photographs of the Dead Cities of northwestern Syria, including Raqqa and al-Bara.

Vartan Derounian (1888-1954) was an Armenian-Syrian photographer, who spent a number of decades documenting the people and places of Northern Syria, and is best known for his photographs of Armenian refugees, who had escaped the genocide of 1914-1923. His shop was situated on the Boulevard de France (later renamed Shukri al-Quwatli Street, after the first president of post-independence Syria), selling prints, photographic equipment and processing services. An advert on the lower wrapper, with a line drawing of the shopfront, states that he was the official photographer to the French delegation, archaeological service and administrations in the city.

 

Stock Code: 247424