BÜTTIKOFER JOHAN (1850 1927) Reisebilder Aus Liberia [Travel

Sale 2135 - Lot 45

Unsold

Estimate: $ 30,000 - $ 45,000

BÜTTIKOFER, JOHAN (1850-1927) Reisebilder Aus Liberia [Travel Photographs of Liberia]. With 50 extraordinary photographs, comprising 44 of Liberia and 3 each of Senegal and the Canary Islands; including a 2-part panorama of "Grande Cape Mount, Liberia." Albumen prints, 6 1/4x8 1/4 inches (15.8x20.9 cm.), each with a printed caption label affixed to mount recto. Small folio-size, gilt-lettered burgundy boards box, worn; contents crisp, clean, and loose as issued. Haag, Holland: Visser v. Weeren, 1887

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The Dutchman John Büttikofer studied natural sciences at the University of Berne, in Switzerland. Upon graduating, he was employed as preparator at its Zoological Museum, where he was also designated director of the ornithological collection. From 1878-82, and again, in 1886 Buettikofer traveled to Liberia to undertake research. The fascinating visual chronicle of Buettkofer's sojourn is a probably unique suite of photographs, which were gifted to his colleague and friend Mr. J. R. H. Neerwoort van de Poll, who loaned him camera equipment.

In an ALS that accompanies the lot Büttikoffer writes to Van de Poll: "My dear friend, allow me to thank you once again sincerely and warmly for the use of the excellent apparatus and the gift of the dry plates. Your service in lending me your apparatus has been more important to me as you will probably imagine, because not only did you spare me considerable expenses, but you also enabled me to do a good job." The lot includes a host of artful photographs of indigenous people, the country's lush natural landscape, local architecture and flora, American missionary projects, and views of Monrovia (the country's capital), and group portraits of workers outside factories. Six prints also depict trips he made to Senegal and the Canary Islands; and two show a light-haired Caucasian man (the photographer?).

Africa's first republic, Liberia was founded in 1822 as a result of the efforts of the American Colonization Society to settle freed American slaves in west Africa. The Society believed that relocating blacks to Africa was an answer to the "problem of slavery." Over the course of forty years, about 12,000 slaves voluntarily returned to Africa, which was orginally known as Monrovia. The colony became the Free and Independent Republic of Liberia in 1847. Liberia's indigenous population is composed of 16 different ethnic groups. The English-speaking Americo-Liberians, descendants of former American slaves, make up approximately 5% of the population but have historically dominated the intellectual and ruling class.

JPGs are available upon request.