Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 1486

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

.33 linear feet (1 box)

Language:

German and Italian

Preferred Citation:

Libyan photograph album, 1937, Ms. Coll. 1486, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania.

Date:

1937

Form:

Photographs and Photograph albums

Abstract:

This album contains 98 black and white photographs taken during a trip to Libya in 1937 by an anonymous photographer, who likely was German or Italian. The photographs are of scenes from around Libya, such as the Hotel Albergo Mehari, a camel market, Tripoli Castle, a coastal oasis, a Bedouin village, markets and bazars. Prominent locations shown include, Tripoli, Sabratha, Leptis Magna, Zliten, and Yefren. Additionally, photographs of people, including children, locals, officials, and soldiers can be found throughout.

The photographs in this album show Libya in 1937 when it was under Italian colonial rule. The trip by the anonymous photographer and his friend begins in Rome on April 30, 1937 and their last day in Libya appears to have been May 6th. It's possible that they stopped in Tunis on their way to Libya, which is suggested by a "Claridge Hotel – Tunis" postcard that is included in the album. The nationality of the two men is unclear, but presumably is either German or Italian. The person seen in the album who is most likely the photographer is a man wearing a light toned suit jacket and holding a camera in photograph #1. This same man with a camera appears in photograph #2, to the left of a second man. This second photograph is captioned "The Air Travellers," which implies that these men are "A. B." and "G. S. W." from the album's inscription, but which is which, or even if this is true can't be verified.

This bound album contains 98 black and white photographs taken during a trip to Libya in 1937 by an anonymous photographer. The overall technical and artistic quality of the photographs, along with how they are presented in the album suggest a photographer of above-average skill and experience. The album is inscribed: "A. B. in memory of the May days of 1937 in Tripoli in friendship G. S. W." With the exception of the first four photographs, the album consists of images that show scenes around Libya, such as the Hotel Albergo Mehari, a camel market, Tripoli Castle, a coastal oasis, a Bedouin village, markets and bazaars. Prominent locations shown include, Tripoli, Sabratha, Leptis Magna, Zliten, and Yefren. Additionally, photographs of people, including children, locals, officials, and soldiers can be found throughout. The first four photographs in the album appear to be scenes just prior to leaving Italy, particularly the fourth photograph, which shows the skyline of Rome and has the caption, "Departing Rome April 30."

All of the writing in this album is either in German or Italian. Translation and interpretation of these languages was performed using translation tools only.