The Middle East In Pictures – A Set of Photo Albums of the Middle East by G. Eric Matson, with an introduction and descriptions by George S. Hobart, curator of the Library of Congress – A complete set of four volumes – Hundreds of photographs from the Matson Photographic Service of American Colony photographer G. Eric Matson, published by Arno Press, New York 1980.
Eleven photo albums in four volumes compiling thousands of photographs of Eretz Israel and the Middle East taken by G. Eric Matson, chief photographer of the “American Colony” in Jerusalem and produced by the “Matson Photographic Service” in the early decades of the 20th century. The photographs in the albums were printed from the original negatives after Matson’s collection was donated to the Library of Congress in America.
Matson, a member of the American Colony in Jerusalem, developed his photography business to unprecedented proportions even before World War I. His huge collection of 20,000 photographs was ultimately donated to the Library of Congress. In the volumes before us appear many important parts of them, particularly those photographed by Matson until 1934. In four volumes appear countless rare photographs taken by Matson, documenting historical sights from Eretz Israel and Middle East, including photographs of the rebuilt Jerusalem – the Western Wall, dozens of photographs of the Temple Mount from various angles, Jewish and Arab residents of Jerusalem, General Allenby’s entry into the gates of Jerusalem in 1917, Tower and Stockade settlements, paving of Allenby Street in Tel Aviv, important ceremonies, and inaugurations of roads and bridges, the growth of the city of Tel Aviv, the kibbutzim in the Jezreel Valley, holy sites, Jews at the tomb of Ezekiel the Prophet, many photographs of the various communities in Eretz Israel and Middle East in their traditional clothing and daily life, and many more. In the photographs Matson wrote notes beside the original negatives, the editor brought the notes verbatim.
Complete set of four volumes. 37 cm. Original cloth covers with a glued photograph on each and gilt lettering. Stains on some pages. Overall good condition.
