The discovery of Gilf Kebir in nearly 400 original photographs
[The Gilf Kebir expedition in photographs].
390 original photographs, various sizes (60 x 60 to 230 x 175 mm), many with captions in French. Mounted in 3 albums: 320 x 260 mm; 280 x 230 mm; 300 x 240 mm. Full cloth, synthetic and paper bindings with decorative patterns; two albums spiral bound.
$31,263.00
Half-track trucks conquering the deep desert: a large trove of vivid photographs showing the historic expedition to the Gilf Kebir plateau in the remote southwest corner of Egypt and southeast Libya, led by Prince Kamal al Dine Hussein (1874-1932), the only son of the Sultan of Egypt, in the mid-1920s. Presumably compiled by Georges Pluvinet, the auto mechanic accompanying the mission; complete with his letter of recommendation signed by the Prince, and his passport for Syria and Lebanon stamped by the Egyptian Consulate in Paris and upon entering Egypt.
The bulk of the nearly 400 photographs consists of impressive images of the Citroën Kegresse autochinelle fleet carefully manoevering difficult terrain, first in the snowy Alps on their way to Marseille, later on the Gilf Kebir, crossing water and getting stuck in the sands, but also speeding through the desert heavily loaded with equipment. Shots of each of the nine half-track vehicles with their drivers and cargo, resembling portraits, cover an entire page, reinforcing the suggestion that it was the mechanic who took and assembled the pictures. Further, the expedition crew is depicted aboard the steamer from Marseille to Cairo, driving, pushing, or posing next to their vehicles, setting up tents and equipment, enjoying a desert picnic or playing with monkeys and foxes. Port and city views of Cairo, shots of the pyramids and the Great Sphinx, camels, bedouins, rock paintings, and an "Egyptian beauty" - a veiled woman - complete the collection. The set further includes six photographs of 1920s pugilists, among which are a signed picture of Georges Carpentier and a photograph of Charles Lindbergh, with some newspaper clippings about the Gilf Kebir expedition.
Between 1923 and 1926 Prince Kamal al Dine Hussein led several expeditions to the Egyptian and Libyan desert. He discovered and named the Gilf Kebir Plateau and also introduced the use of automobiles for deep desert explorations in that part of the world. Massive camel caravans of up to 500 animals would carry his fuel supply as the logistical backbone of his ventures. In 1925 he discovered Merga Oasis and was the first to make a scientific report on the numerous rock art sites he discovered at Karkur Talh.
Lower board of one album detached; cloth torn in places. Rather foxed throughout. The photographs very well preserved. A unique find.
