The collection of 47 photographs contains views of the city of Beirut, Lebanon and the ruins of the ancient city of Palmyra and the town of Al-Rastan in Syria, taken by Louis Vignes in 1864 when he accompanied Honoré Théodoric d'Albert, duc de Luynes, on his expedition to the Dead Sea region. They represent the earliest photographs of the remains of Roman Palmyra and are also among the earliest photographs of Beirut.

Louis Vignes (1831-1896) was born in Bordeaux, France, where his father was director of the mint. Vignes entered the École Navale in 1846 at age 15. He rose steadily through the naval ranks and by 1860 he had directed the building of the port of Beirut and attained the rank of lieutenant. In 1862, Vignes captained a steamer attached to the division of the coasts of Syria. By the end of his long and successful naval career Vignes had attained the rank of vice admiral and had become Inspecteur général de la Marine.

47 photographic prints (2 boxes)

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