Grand Tour Photo Album c. 1880-1890, Italy, Large folio size with over 160 albumen prints

A monumental photo album of large folio size (46cm x 43cm) carrying the gilt initialed monogram 'M.G.'. Undated, but c. 1880-1890. The album is titled 'Italia'.

The album features topographical scenes - architecture, archaeological sites, artworks and scenic views, all in Italy. This includes locations such as Rome, The Vatican, Pompeii, Florence, Venice, Lake Como, Turin, Verona, Catania, as well as an erupting Vesuvius. there are also some shots including people in various settings.

This record of travels took place at the time when travel across Europe was just beginning to be more accessible than the earlier aristocratic journeys of the privileged, wealthy few. An album like this would have been purchased by the traveller as a souvenir and record of their journey.

Grand Tour Photo Album c. 1880-1890, Italy, with over 160 Albumen Prints. The print size varies from 25cm x 19.5cm (10" x 8") up to large single images of  88cm x 28cm (15" x 11").

The album is a large navy blue cloth hardback with black leather leather spines and corners, with gilt. The spine has been replaced and the boards rebacked to make a sound binding. With wear, bumping and marks to covers.

All soundly bound. Bright, shiny gilt edges to the mount pages. New white replacement endpapers. A slight waviness to the leaves.

Mount pages are good - with some dark staining to those at front and rear extremities, but with little affect to the images, which are very good. The photographs have a sepia tone and excellent definition. An impressive album.

Approximate dimensions: 460mm high x 430mm wide (18" x 17") x 52mm deep.

Weight approximately 7.23kg (unpacked).