Sophus Williams; Photographische Kunstanstalt Stengel & Co

Two decorative historic travel photo albums with original photographic views of Breslau (today Wrocław) and Meran in South Tyrol, each in elaborately designed red original bindings with ornamental black and gold embossing. 1. Breslau and Surroundings Historic photo album published by Sophus Williams, Photographic Art Publishing, Berlin. The views depict significant buildings, squares and cityscapes of historic Breslau, including on the shown plates the Royal Castle, Blücher Monument, Town Hall with the Friedrich Wilhelm III. monument, Cathedral, Sand Church, Victory Monument, and the Royal University. Especially interesting: Comparable photographs from exactly the same series “Breslau and Surroundings” by Sophus Williams are today in the collection of the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. The museum lists the corresponding images as historical albumen prints and dates copies of the series to 1878. Sophus Williams (1835–1900) was a photographer and publisher in Berlin and became known, among other things, for extensive photographic series of German cities and sights; “Breslau and Surroundings” belongs to his documented series. 2. Meran Decorative historic photo album “Meran,” also in a red, richly ornamental printed or embossed original binding. Included are historical photographic views of Meran and the surrounding area, including city panoramas, parish church, Laubengasse (arcaded alley), princely residence, Schloss Tirol, and further landscape and architectural shots. On the photographs you can find the publisher’s imprint “Photographischer Kunstverlag Stengel & Co., Dresden.” On several of your images there is also a dating of 1896 or 1897. Accordingly, I would cautiously date the album to around 1896/97. Stengel & Co. images of Meran from this period are documented as historical photographs. Age-appropriate used condition. Bindings with light to moderate wear and edge rubbing. Inner pages browned or stained due to age, partially with minor edge and wear traces. Overall photographs well preserved for the age. Handwritten entries or old numbering present. The exact condition and extent are part of the photo documentation.

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