Two albums of photographs of Egypt by Antonio Beato, probably assembled in 1887 for the Vanderbilt family trip to Egypt, using photographs taken by Beato between 1862 and 1887, during the years he worked from his studio in Luxor.

British and Italian photographer, famous for his architectural photographs of Egypt. Antonio, often known by the French form of his name, Antoine Beato, worked with his brother, Felice, also a photographer, in Malta, Greece, India and the Holy Land. In 1860 Antonio moved to Cairo, where he lived for two years before finally settling in Luxor. There he established a studio, and spent the remaining years of his life photographing the antiquities, architecture, landscapes, and people of Egypt. His photographs are an extremely valuable record of monuments that have since been defaced or destroyed. He died in 1906.

2 albums (285 photographic prints) : b&w, albumen, 37 x 52 cm (albums)

Photographs in v. 1 (26.3 x 38.8 cm) are mounted individually to rectos and versos of 49 leaves of heavy white cardstock; those in v. 2 (21 x 26 cm) are mounted two to a page on 49 leaves; almost all photographs signed "A. Beato" (some in negative), with identifying captions in French written in brown ink below; one of the photographs, no. 46, is dated 1881: "Prise en 1881."

Half-bound in dark brown cloth over dark brown leather boards; spine repaired with a strip of black grained cloth; large ornate circular centerpiece stamped in gold, featuring a lotus flower between two serpents, above an eagle, with wings outstretched, and a panel of hieroglyphics; red marbled endpapers. Armorial bookplate on front pastedown of Oliver Perry, with his motto "Sans crainte."

Each album housed in modern custom beige cloth clamshell box; spine label has title "Beato. Egypt. Vol. I[-II]." Ms. note on endpaper in v. 1 indicates that the albums were originally purchased on Jan. 5, 1925 from Dawson's Book Shop in Los Angeles for $12.50 each.

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