Russian Empire, Odessa. Portfolio of 34 Photographic Plates Issued During the Austro-German Occupation of Odessa, 1918

Odessa: S. O. Gefter, 1918. Item #1601

A group of 34 loose monochrome photographic plates depicting major architectural landmarks, streets, parks, harbor facilities, and seaside resorts of Odessa (today's Ukraine, Odesa). Captions printed in Russian and German beneath each image. Each plate bears the publisher's imprint: [Published by S. O. Gefter, Odessa, 15 May 1918].

34 photographic plates printed on individual leaves, each approximately 20 x 14,5 cm. Publisher's imprint repeated on each plate; side-punched for string or ribbon binding. Minor age toning, occasional foxing, and handling wear.

The series includes views of the Imperial Novorossiysk University, Military School, Opera House, Stock Exchange, City Duma, Catherine Street, Marazlievskaya Street, Langeron Street, Nicholas Boulevard, the Potemkin (Richelieu) Stairway, City Garden, Alexander Park, the harbor, lighthouse, Arcadia, Langeron, Little Fountain, Marazli Villa, and other notable locations.

Produced during the brief period following the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, when Odessa was occupied by Austro-Hungarian and German forces in the spring of 1918, the publication's bilingual Russian-German captions reflect the city's unique political circumstances at the time. Unlike prewar tourist postcard albums, this portfolio documents Odessa at a pivotal moment between the collapse of the Russian Empire and the subsequent civil-war period.

Price: $300.00