Finding aid for the Carte-de-visite album of Algeria, 1870s-1880s 2019.R.1

Beth Ann Guynn
Special Collections
2019
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles 90049-1688
Business Number: (310) 440-7390
Fax Number: (310) 440-7780
reference@getty.edu


Contributing Institution: Special Collections
Title: Carte-de-visite album of Algeria
Creator: Leroux, A. (Alexandre), 1836-1912
Identifier/Call Number: 2019.R.1
Physical Description: 1 Linear Feet(Album of 52 photographs)
Date (inclusive): 1870s-1880s
Abstract: The carte-de-visite album contains 50 cartes-de-visite of Algeria and Algerians by various photographers including Jean Geiser and Alexandre Leroux; a two-part panorama of Algiers by Jean Geiser made from two joined horizontal cabinet cards; and a panoramic view of Oran by A. Decugis showing the port and military hospital, also on a horizontal cabinet card.
Physical Location: Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the catalogrecord  for this collection. Click here for the access policy .
Language of Material: English.

Publication Rights

Arrangement

The album is arranged in a single series: Series I.Carte-de-visite album of Algeria, 1870s-1880s.

Biographical / Historical

Lucien-Jacob Geiser (1810-1852), an ébéniste by trade, immigrated to Algeria from Switzerland with his wife Julie and three sons in 1850, but died shortly thereafter in 1852. It is unclear whether Geiser père opened the photography business or his widow Julie opened it after her husband's death, but the family eventually partnered with Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Alary (1810-c. 1867), an early daguerreotypist, renaming the firm Alary & Geiser. After Alary's death the youngest Geiser son, Jean-Théophile (1848-1923), took over the business, running it into the 1920s under the name Jean Geiser.
Alexandre Leroux owned and operated a photography studio in Algiers from the 1870s until his death in 1912. After his death, his sons continued selling his prints using his stamp.
Little is known about the photographers L. Cairol; A. Decugis; Elie Karsenty; and A. Rigod.

Access

Open for use by qualified researchers.

Existence and Location of Copies

The collection was digitized by the repository in 2019 and the images are available online:
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/2019r1

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Acquired in 2019.

Preferred Citation

Carte-de-visite album of Algeria, 1870s-1880s, The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, Accession no. 2019.R.1.
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2019r1

Processing Information

The finding aid was written by Beth Ann Guynn in 2019.

Scope and Content of Collection

The album contains 50 cartes-de-visite of Algeria and Algerians by various photographers; a two-part panorama of Algiers by Jean Geiser made from two joined horizontal cabinet cards; and a panoramic view of Oran by A. Decugis showing the port and military hospital, also on a horizontal cabinet card.
The Geiser panorama of Algiers is the first image in the album, adhered to the verso of the blank page preceding the carte-de-visite mounts. The first part of the album is devoted to views of Algiers, Blida, and Oran, while the remaining images are studio portraits of Algerian "types." The larger view of Oran is the final image in the album.
Rather than being inserted in their slots back-to-back, the cartes-de-visite are arranged in the album so that their versos are showing. The makers of the bulk of the photographs are not identified by imprints on their versos, and any imprints on their rectos are covered by the album mounts. In addition to Geiser and Decugis, photographers known to be represented in the album include Alexandre Leroux; L. Cairol; Elie Karsenty; and A. Rigod.
The album has bossed brown calf covers with floral and geometric designs.
Ink annotations are written in French on the versos of 33 of the cartes-de-visite, and on the rectos of the panoramas of Algiers and Oran.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Algerians -- Portraits
Algiers (Algeria) -- Description and travel
Blida (Algeria) -- Description and travel
Oran (Algeria) -- Description and travel
Albumen prints -- Algeria -- 19th century
Cabinet cards -- Algeria -- 19th century
Cartes-de-visite -- Algeria -- 19th century
Photograph albums -- Algeria -- 19th century
Photographs, Original
Cairol, L.
Geiser, Jean, 1848-1923
Decugis, A.
Karsenty, Elie
Rigod, A.

 

Carte-de-visite album of Algeria, Series I. 1870s-1880s

Carte-de-visite album of Algeria (digitized version)

Arrangement

In original order.

Scope and Contents

Titles from annotations on mount versos unless otherwise noted.
box 1, item front cover

Front cover 2019.R.1-fc

box 1, page front endpapers

Front endpapers 2019.R.1-fe

box 1, page front free endpaper verso

Verso of front free endpaper 2019.R.1-fe_v

box 1, page 1 recto

Blank page 2019.R.1-1r

box 1, page 1 verso

Geiser, Jean, Algier, vue générale, 2019.R.1-1v not before 1872

Scope and Contents

Two-part joined panorama made from two cabinet cards. Photographer's imprint on both mounts: Jean Geiser, Phot. 7, rue Bab-Azoun, Alger.
box 1, item  verso of 1 verso

Annotation on verso of Algier, vue générale 2019.R.1-1v.v

box 1, page 2 recto

Page 2 recto, 2019.R.1-2r ca. 1880

box 1, item 2 recto-1

Photographer unidentified, Alger, place du Gouvernement et mosquée de Djama-Djédid 2019.R.1-2r1

box 1, item 2 recto-2

Photographer unidentified, Alger, boulevard de la République, quais 2019.R1-2r2

box 1, page 3 recto-1

Leroux, Alexandre, Intérieur de l'archevêché, 2019.R.1-3r1 not before 1881

Scope and Contents

Annotation on verso written over elaborate Leroux imprint that includes images of medals won in 1880 and 1881.
box 1, page 3 recto-2

Leroux, Alexandre, Colonnades rue de la Marine, Alger, 2019.R.1-3r2 not before 1881

Scope and Contents

Annotation on verso written over elaborate Leroux imprint that includes images of medals won in 1880 and 1881.
box 1, page 4 recto-1

Leroux, Alexandre, Intérieur de la grande mosquée, 2019.R.1-4r1 not before 1881

Scope and Contents

Annotation on verso written over elaborate Leroux imprint that includes images of medals won in 1880 and 1881.
box 1, page 4 recto-2

Photographer unidentified, Alger, intérieur d'une maison arabe, 2019.R.1-4r2 ca. 1880

box 1, page 5 recto-1

Photographer unidentified, Alger, rue de la Ville Haute, 2019.R.1-5r1 ca. 1880

Scope and Contents

View of the street's arches.
box 1, page 5 recto-2

Photographer unidentified, Alger, rue de la Ville Haute, 2019.R.1-5r2 ca. 1880

Scope and Contents

A doorway on the street.
box 1, page 6 recto-1

Photographer unidentified, Alger, boutique arabe, 2019.R.1-6r1 ca. 1880

box 1, page 6 recto-2

Leroux, Alexandre, Port de la casbah, 2019.R.1-6r2 not before 1881

Scope and Contents

Annotation on verso written over elaborate Leroux imprint that includes images of medals won in 1880 and 1881.
box 1, page 7 recto-1

Photographer unidentified, Alger, Notre Dame d'Afrique, 2019.R.1-7r1 ca. 1880

box 1, page 7 recto-2

Photographer unidentified, Alger, Mustapha Suleimanie, palais du gouverneur, 2019.R.1-7r2 ca. 1880

box 1, page 8 recto-1

Leroux, Alexandre, Alger, vue de allée du Jardin d'Essai, 2019.R.1-8r1 not before 1881

Scope and Contents

Annotation on verso written over elaborate Leroux imprint that includes images of medals won in 1880 and 1881.
box 1, page 8 recto-2

Photographer unidentified, Blidah, vue générale, 2019.R.1-8r2 ca. 1880

box 1, page 9 recto-1

Photographer unidentified, Blidah, la place d'Armes 2019.R.1-9r1 ca. 1880

box 1, page 9 recto-2

Photographer unidentified, Blidah, le jardin public, 2019.R.1-9r2 ca. 1880

box 1, page 10 recto-1

Photographer unidentified, Environs de Blidah, marabout de Sidi-Yacoub au jardin du Bois-Sacré, 2019.R.1-10r1 ca. 1880

box 1, page 10 recto-2

Photographer unidentified, Environs de Blidah, le ruisseau des Singes, gorges de la Chiffa, 2019.R.1-10r2 ca. 1880

box 1, page 11 recto-1

Photographer unidentified, Oran, 2019.R.1-11r1 ca. 1880

Scope and Contents

View of docks and city.
box 1, page 11 recto-2

Photographer unidentified, Oran, 2019.R.1-11r2 ca. 1880

Scope and Contents

View of the city.
box 1, page 12 recto-1

Photographer unidentified, Oran, fort de Santa Cruz, 2019.R.1-12r1 ca. 1880

box 1, page 12 recto-2

Photographer unidentified, Oran, 2019.R.1-12r2 ca. 1880

Scope and Contents

View of the shore.
box 1, page 13 recto-1

Photographer unidentified, Oran, place Kléber, 2019.R.1-13r1 ca. 1880

box 1, page 13 recto-2

Photographer unidentified, Tirailleur algérien indigène, 2019.R.1-13r2 ca. 1880

box 1, page 14 recto-1

Photographer unidentified, Mascara, porte d'Oran et marché arabe, 2019.R.1-14r1 ca. 1880

box 1, page 14 recto-2

Karsenty, Elie, Mascara, cimetière arabe, 2019.R.1-14r2 ca. 1880

Scope and Contents

Annotation on verso written over photographer's wet stamp: Photographie / Elie / Karsenty / Mascara.
box 1, page 15 recto-1

Leroux, Alexandre, Tentes arabes, 2019.R.1-15r1 not before 1881

Scope and Contents

Group of palms with tents behind them. Annotation on verso written over elaborate Leroux imprint that includes images of medals won in 1880 and 1881.
box 1, page 15 recto-2

Photographer unidentified, Tentes arabes, 2019.R.1-15r2 ca. 1880

Scope and Contents

Large tent.
box 1, page 16 recto-1

Geiser, Jean, Lecture de la lettre (Alger), 2019.R.1-16r1 not before 1872

Scope and Contents

Title from a larger copy of this image held in the Ken and Jenny Jacobson collection of Orientalist photography (item number 2008.R.3-3677). This image is part of an elaborately staged "Oriental" series of photographs clearly intended for use by painters.
box 1, page 16 recto-2

Geiser, Jean (?), [Two Men Playing Chess at a Low Table], 2019.R.1-16r2 not before 1872

box 1, page 17 recto-1

Photographer unidentified, [Portrait of Two Standing Women with Hanging Plants behind Them], 2019.R.1-17r1 ca. 1880

box 1, page 17 recto-2

Rigod, A., [Three Standing Musicians], 2019.R.1-17r2 ca. 1880

Scope and Contents

Photographer's imprint on verso: Photographie artistique / de Paris / A. Rigod. / Succursales / à Mascara et Mostaganem.
box 1, page 18 recto-1

Rigod, A., [Algerian with Large Straw Hat], 2019.R.1-18r1 ca. 1880

Scope and Contents

Rigod's signature is wet stamped on the verso.
box 1, page 18 recto-2

Cairol, L., [Portrait of an Algerian Caïd], 2019.R.1-18r2 not before 1878

Scope and Contents

Bust portait of a man with several medals pinned to his robes. Photographer's imprint on verso below his monogram flanked by medals won at 1878 Paris and Oran expositions: L. Cairol / photographe / boulevard Oudinot / Oran / (Algérie).
box 1, page 19 recto-1

Photographer unidentified, Saüda, 2019.R.1-19r1 1883

Scope and Contents

Full-length portrait of an Algerian man standing next to a balustrade with a pot of flowers atop it. Dated on verso: 6 février 1883.
box 1, page 19 recto-2

Photographer unidentified, Mauresque, 2019.R.1-19r2 ca. 1880

box 1, page 20 rectro-1

Photographer unidentified, Arabe, 2019.R.1-20r1 ca. 1875

Scope and Contents

Full-length portrait of an Algerian man wearing a dark cloak over his robes.
box 1, page 20 rectro-2

Cairol, L., [Portrait of a Woman Wearing a Printed Dress], 2019.R.1-20r2 not before 1878

Scope and Contents

Photographer's imprint on verso, below his monogram flanked by medals won at 1878 Paris and Oran expositions: L. Cairol / photographe / boulevard Oudinot / Oran / (Algérie).
box 1, page 21 recto-1

Photographer unidentified, [Algerian Standing next to Chair, Cigarette in Hand], 2019.R.1-21r1 ca. 1880

box 1, page 21 recto-2

Photographer unidentified, [Seated Woman], 2019.R.1-21r2 ca. 1880

box 1, page 22 recto-1

Photographer unidentified, [Woman with Baby on Her Back Kneeling to Cut a Gourd], 2019.R.1-22r1 ca. 1880

box 1, page 22 recto-2

Photographer unidentified, Arabe sur un chameau, 2019.R.1-22r2 ca. 1880

box 1, page 23 recto-1

Photographer unidentified, [Woman Seated with Hand on Cheek], 2019.R.1-23r1 ca. 1880

box 1, page 23 recto-2

Photographer unidentified, Femme arabe en lieu enfant, 2019.R.1-23r2 ca. 1880

Scope and Contents

Woman in profile with bonneted baby on her back.
box 1, page 24 recto-1

Photographer unidentified, [Bust Portrait of Man in Dark Garments with Tasseled Turban], 2019.R.1-24r1 ca. 1880

box 1, page 24 recto-2

Photographer unidentified, [Moorish Woman Wearing Conical Hat], 2019.R.1-24r2 ca. 1880

box 1, page 25 recto-1

Photographer unidentified, [Algerian Man Standing next to a Window], 2019.R.1-25r1 ca. 1880

box 1, page 25 recto-2

Photographer unidentified, [Woman Wearing Long Dress], 2019.R.1-25r2 ca. 1880

box 1, page 26 recto-1

Photographer unidentified, [Child Standing between Parents], 2019.R.1-26r1 ca. 1880

box 1, page 26 recto-2

Cairol, L., [Woman with Lace Bodice], 2019.R.1-26r2 not before 1878

Scope and Contents

Photographer's imprint on verso, below his monogram flanked by medals won at 1878 Paris and Oran expositions: L. Cairol / photographe / boulevard Oudinot / Oran / (Algérie).
box 1, page 27 recto

Decugis, A., Oran, port et hôpital militaire, 2019.R.1-27 ca. 1880

Scope and Contents

Cabinet card. Blind stamp on mount recto: A. Decugis Phot.
box 1, page 27 recto-28 verso

Blank pages 2019.R.1-27r28v

box 1, page Back endpapers

Back endpapers 2019.R.1-be

box 1, page Back cover

Back cover 2019.R.1-bc