First edition of a remarkable series of photographs taken in Iraq in the 1920s, showcasing local people and architecture. The photographs were taken by Abdul Kerim (dates unknown) in Baghdad, Basra, Babylon, Nineveh, and Mosul. They have been printed by Rotophot AG of Berlin, one of the largest companies for the production of photogravures in the early 20th century. The images of Mosul are of particular interest, because they show various buildings that have since been destroyed.
The 73 superb photogravures show the Al-Khadhimiyya mosque, the tomb of the Sheikh Umar Suhrawardi, various bridges, and a fruit market in Baghdad, the hustle and bustle along the Tigris river, the ruins of Babylon and Nineveh, the Serai Creek, Bazar square, suq al-Dijaj and Sheikh Gazal market in Basra, Bedouins, Taq Kasra or the Arch of Ctesiphon, the al-Nabi Shith mosque in Mosul (which was destroyed in 2014) and the Red mosque (destroyed in 2017). A number of images show local men, women, and children, from date-sellers on the streets of Baghdad to Kurdish nobles and Arabian Sheikhs. All images are captioned in English. The work also includes three aerial photographs of Baghdad, which were taken by the British RAF.
With an edition label on the back pastedown. The edges and corners of the boards are slightly scuffed. The work his uniformly spotted throughout, 5 leaves in the middle are detached but still present. Otherwise in good condition.