An album of Photocrom prints of Portugal and Switzerland by Photochrom Zürich / Photoglob AG (P.Z.), c. 1890
An album of fine early colour photographic views of the type assembled for affluent European travellers in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The contents predominantly comprise scenic views of Portugal and Switzerland, presented in richly rendered colour and issued as part of a commercially produced series for the continental tourist market. A small group of postcard views and additional printed images appears towards the rear of the album.
Most of the principal images carry overprinted captions in metallic gold ink, together with catalogue numbers and location details. These identify the prints as productions of P.Z. (Photochrom Zurich, later Photoglob AG), a leading Swiss publisher of early colour photographic views. The images are photochroms: ink based colour prints produced using a photomechanical, multi stone lithographic process developed in Zurich in the late nineteenth century. This process represents an important early phase in the commercial dissemination of colour imagery prior to the introduction of modern colour photography.
The album also includes one earlier, uncoloured photographic view, dated 1863 and captioned within the negative, published by Schroeder and Cie, Zurich. This albumen print depicts Lucerne and predates the photochrom material, providing an interesting chronological contrast within the album.
All images are mounted on stout album leaves and housed in a green cloth hardback album, bound with fabric ties that allow the leaves to be opened and adjusted if required.
Contents comprise:
Portuguese views, each approximately 6.5 x 9 inches. Quantity seven.The Portuguese views depict some of the most popular destinations associated with late nineteenth-century travel to Portugal, including riverside and harbour scenes of Lisbon, notably the monumental Praca do Comercio (Terreiro do Paco), together with landscaped gardens and architectural views in the Sintra area. These include romantic parkland and estate scenes linked with the celebrated villas and gardens of Sintra, such as Monserrate Palace and Gardens, reflecting the locations most favoured by affluent European travellers of the period.
The Swiss views encompass a well-chosen range of iconic nineteenth-century Alpine and lakeside subjects, reflecting Switzerland’s central place on the European tourist circuit. These include scenic views around Lake Lucerne, city scenes in Zurich, and landmark subjects such as the Lion Monument. Mountain panoramas of Mount Rigi and Mount Pilatus are also represented, alongside two particularly striking railway views featuring steam traction and mountain engineering.
Postcards and additional material, comprising two album leaves with postcard views, some in colour and one panoramic example, together with one printed black and white view of Berne and several loose magazine clipped images.
The photographic images themselves are in excellent condition, with clean surfaces and strong colour. The album leaves show some age toning and light foxing, with spotting to the inside covers. The binding remains sound, with expected wear to the cloth and extremities.
A handsome and evocative album of early continental colour photography.
Album dimensions approximately 265 mm high x 415 mm wide x 28 mm deep.
Weight approximately 1.6 kg, unpacked.