Expo 1878 Cabinet & 9 Vol Albumen Photos,rome,egypt,athens

RARE AESTHETIC MOVEMENT EBONIZED PORTFOLIO CABINET, WITH NINE ORIGINAL VOLUMES RELATED TO THE UNIVERSAL EXPOSITION, PARIS, 1878. Circa 1878. The ebonized display corner cabinet with galleried shelves centering a cabinet door, mounted with a picture resembling a French watercolor and with interesting original brass hardware of berry sprigs,. The lower section with canted corners fitted with a pull-out slide forming a portfolio display rack, above nine central serpentine shelves, flanked by bowed cabinet doors, each carved with a central foliate cartouche and with conforming hinges, over open compartments, the apron fitted with an arrangement of four drawers on a molded plinth, raised on frontal ball feet. Accompanying this cabinet are nine volumes of photographs, hand-mounted and annotated, documenting the travels of the owner, Mr. E. P. George, and custom ordered by him (see original bill of sale) coinciding with the event of "L'EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE DE 1878", Paris, France (an original souvenir map included with lot). Each volume bound in Black Moroccan leather and titled in gold leaf, containing approx. sixty albumen prints, each affixed to its own page with beautifully scripted hand notations. SIZE: CABINET: 67" h. x 41" w. x 28-1/2" d. EACH VOLUME: approx. 12" x 17-1/2" x 2". PROVENANCE: It is supposed that Mr. George visited the Universal Exposition of 1878 in Paris, France, at the culmination of his "Grand Tour" of the European continent, and also at this time custom-ordered nine leather-bound volumes to fully document and illustrate his adventures, along with the purchase of the customized display cabinet of which these volumes are a part. This is such an awesome & unique personal view of the travels of one individual during the last quarter of the 19th century. The condition is exceptional with original dry finish. One look at this cabinet & it takes your breath away. Can you imagine the sheer opulence of wealth in the 19th century, the fact that this was one mans memento of the trip of a life time, I wonder if he knew that it would be preserved for more than one hundred years to again be appreciated & cherished .This is a true marvel of antiquity & of great historical significance .The magnificent volumes are:

Marseilles to Rome Cities A

Rome to Athens Cities B

Ravenna to Salzburg Cities C

Frescoes & Paintings A

Frescoes & Paintings B

Frescoes & Paintings C

Sculpture

Palestina & Syra

Egypt.