Photographic Views Taken in Egypt and Nubia
Title
Photographic Views Taken in Egypt and Nubia
Alternative Title
Photographic Views Taken in Egypt
Photographic Views Taken in Nubia
Description
This self-published book was issued with printed text pages (occasionally numbered), but not all pages appear in each copy. Title page also varies.
There are only 6 known surviving copies, available at the following institutions: Université Laval, Archive of Modern Conflict Toronto (3 copies), Wilbur Library of Egyptology at the Brooklyn Museum, and the British Library.
There are only 6 known surviving copies, available at the following institutions: Université Laval, Archive of Modern Conflict Toronto (3 copies), Wilbur Library of Egyptology at the Brooklyn Museum, and the British Library.
Date
[1862]
[ca. 1872-1874]
Publisher
Self-published
Coverage
Beauport, Quebec
Language
English
Audience
Original price: none
Advertised in: none
Dr. James Douglas and his son, James Douglas, only prepared copies of their book as gifts for friends and colleagues. The earliest of these books was printed immediately following their return from the trip to Egypt and Nubia in 1862, but they appear to have continued to make new copies for at least 10-15 years after (with some evidence of a change in paper manufacture making the later dates consistent with a later printing, as documented by Jennifer Graham in her 2014 MA thesis for Ryerson University).
Although the elder Douglas is typically the only one credited for the photographs, it is uncertain who may have photographed which scenes. The younger James Douglas seems to indicate that he participated, though not with any particular view to developing his skill with the camera. He writes in the accompanying text to the plate Philæ (Colonnade): “Photography being quite a subordinate object with us, we never left the beaten tract nor did we ever delay an hour for the mere purpose of taking a view.” Some of the views are indeed a bit blurry, with evidence of the camera having been bumped mid-exposure in at least one instance. Regardless, the Douglases must have been generally pleased with their images in order to print text plates to accompany their photographs. In 1908, Douglas donated a copy of the book to the British Museum, securing its value as a signifcant cultural object.
Advertised in: none
Dr. James Douglas and his son, James Douglas, only prepared copies of their book as gifts for friends and colleagues. The earliest of these books was printed immediately following their return from the trip to Egypt and Nubia in 1862, but they appear to have continued to make new copies for at least 10-15 years after (with some evidence of a change in paper manufacture making the later dates consistent with a later printing, as documented by Jennifer Graham in her 2014 MA thesis for Ryerson University).
Although the elder Douglas is typically the only one credited for the photographs, it is uncertain who may have photographed which scenes. The younger James Douglas seems to indicate that he participated, though not with any particular view to developing his skill with the camera. He writes in the accompanying text to the plate Philæ (Colonnade): “Photography being quite a subordinate object with us, we never left the beaten tract nor did we ever delay an hour for the mere purpose of taking a view.” Some of the views are indeed a bit blurry, with evidence of the camera having been bumped mid-exposure in at least one instance. Regardless, the Douglases must have been generally pleased with their images in order to print text plates to accompany their photographs. In 1908, Douglas donated a copy of the book to the British Museum, securing its value as a signifcant cultural object.
Has Format
DPV_AMC1
Location: Archive of Modern Conflict, Toronto, 20253_2
Title: Photographic Views Taken in Egypt
Has Part: 34 photographs (albumen prints)
Provenance: Cairns, Naomi (née Douglas), ca.1805-1868
Handwritten inscription inside on fly leaf: "Presented to Mrs. and Miss Cairns / by N. Douglas. / Glenalla, October 15. 1862." Mrs. Naomi Cairns was the aunt of Naomi Douglas (née Douglas [no relation]), wife of the younger James Douglas.
Notes: Cover in red half leather with green watered silk, no title on cover
Location: Archive of Modern Conflict, Toronto, 20253_2
Title: Photographic Views Taken in Egypt
Has Part: 34 photographs (albumen prints)
Provenance: Cairns, Naomi (née Douglas), ca.1805-1868
Handwritten inscription inside on fly leaf: "Presented to Mrs. and Miss Cairns / by N. Douglas. / Glenalla, October 15. 1862." Mrs. Naomi Cairns was the aunt of Naomi Douglas (née Douglas [no relation]), wife of the younger James Douglas.
Notes: Cover in red half leather with green watered silk, no title on cover
DPV_AMC2
Location: Archive of Modern Conflict, Toronto, 14481
Title: Photographic Views Taken in Egypt
Date: Later assemblage, [ca. 1872-1874]
Has Part: 39 photographs (albumen prints)
Provenance: Russell, Robert Henry, 1819-1882
This book was a gift from the author to Dr. Russell, a former pupil and later colleague of Douglas. Although Douglas trained three Russell brothers, only Robert remained in practice in Quebec. A handwritten letter is inserted in the front matter of the book indicating that Dr. Russell and a Dr. Landry helped Douglas through an illness. The photographs were taken on a trip to Egypt that was part of a lengthy recovery period for Douglas in the dry air of the Middle East. Both Drs. Russell and Landry received copies of the Photographic Views Taken in Egypt.
Notes: Cover in red half leather with red cloth, title inset into cover "Photographic Views in Egypt & Nubia"
Location: Archive of Modern Conflict, Toronto, 14481
Title: Photographic Views Taken in Egypt
Date: Later assemblage, [ca. 1872-1874]
Has Part: 39 photographs (albumen prints)
Provenance: Russell, Robert Henry, 1819-1882
This book was a gift from the author to Dr. Russell, a former pupil and later colleague of Douglas. Although Douglas trained three Russell brothers, only Robert remained in practice in Quebec. A handwritten letter is inserted in the front matter of the book indicating that Dr. Russell and a Dr. Landry helped Douglas through an illness. The photographs were taken on a trip to Egypt that was part of a lengthy recovery period for Douglas in the dry air of the Middle East. Both Drs. Russell and Landry received copies of the Photographic Views Taken in Egypt.
Notes: Cover in red half leather with red cloth, title inset into cover "Photographic Views in Egypt & Nubia"
DPV_AMC3
Location: Archive of Modern Conflict, Toronto, 20253_1
Title: Photographic Views Taken in Nubia
Has Part: 33 photographs (albumen prints)
Notes: Full red leather binding, title stamped "Photographic Views Taken in Nubia." The layout of the title page of this book is the same as those which read "Photographic Views Taken in Egypt." Unlike the other books, however, it has a Table of Contents page following the title page. The contents are labeled "Volume II" but many of the photographs overlap with those found in the Egypt volumes.
Missing photographs: title page; photograph to accompany the text plate at the end of the book, "Rameses Slaying His Enemies."
Location: Archive of Modern Conflict, Toronto, 20253_1
Title: Photographic Views Taken in Nubia
Has Part: 33 photographs (albumen prints)
Notes: Full red leather binding, title stamped "Photographic Views Taken in Nubia." The layout of the title page of this book is the same as those which read "Photographic Views Taken in Egypt." Unlike the other books, however, it has a Table of Contents page following the title page. The contents are labeled "Volume II" but many of the photographs overlap with those found in the Egypt volumes.
Missing photographs: title page; photograph to accompany the text plate at the end of the book, "Rameses Slaying His Enemies."
DPV_Laval1
Location: Bibliothèque de l’Université Laval, DT 47 D734 1862
Title: Photographic Views Taken in Egypt
Date: Later assemblage, [ca. 1872-1874]
Has Part: 36 photographs (albumen prints)
Provenanace: Landry, Jean-Étienne, 1815-1884
Dr. Landry received a copy of this book from the author, with a handwritten letter included with the front matter. Douglas wrote to thank Dr. Landry for helping him recover from a "comminuted fracture of the bones of the leg," which saved his limb and life. The letter mentions Douglas was also treated by Dr. Russell, who received his own copy of the book. Dr. Russell's copy is currently held by the Archive of Modern Conflict, Toronto.
Notes: Cover in red half leather with red cloth, title inset into cover "Photographic Views in Egypt & Nubia"
Location: Bibliothèque de l’Université Laval, DT 47 D734 1862
Title: Photographic Views Taken in Egypt
Date: Later assemblage, [ca. 1872-1874]
Has Part: 36 photographs (albumen prints)
Provenanace: Landry, Jean-Étienne, 1815-1884
Dr. Landry received a copy of this book from the author, with a handwritten letter included with the front matter. Douglas wrote to thank Dr. Landry for helping him recover from a "comminuted fracture of the bones of the leg," which saved his limb and life. The letter mentions Douglas was also treated by Dr. Russell, who received his own copy of the book. Dr. Russell's copy is currently held by the Archive of Modern Conflict, Toronto.
Notes: Cover in red half leather with red cloth, title inset into cover "Photographic Views in Egypt & Nubia"