Tribal Portraits - Shapero Rare Books

Tribal Portraits 

VINTAGE AND CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE AFRICAN CONTINENT

Bernard J. Shapero Rare Books 

32 Saint George Street 

London W1S 2EA 

T +44 (0)20 7493 0876 

F +44 (0)20 7495 5010 

rarebooks@shapero.com 

www.shapero.com 

Terms and Conditions 

The condition of all photographs has been described; all items in this catalogue are guaranteed to 

be complete and in good condition unless otherwise stated. All items are offered for sale under the 

antiquarian retailers margin scheme, except for books and photographic albums which are zero 

rated forVAT purposes. Invoices will be rendered in £ sterling. The title of goods does not pass to the 

purchaser until the invoice has been paid in full. 

Please note images reproduced in this catalogue are not to scale. 

To enquire after any item in this catalogue please contact Roland Belgrave: roland@shapero.com 

vat number G.B. 466 5294 16 

NB: The illustrations are not equally scaled. Exact dimensions will be provided on request. 

Photographs 

Front Cover - Item 17. RODGER, George. The Nubas of Kordofan, Southern Sudan. 

Back Cover - Item 109. SIDIBE, Malick. ‘Yokoro’. 

Edited by Roland Belgrave 

Designed by Scott Harvey 

Photography by Louie Fasciolo 

Printed by Thanet Press Ltd.

Item 15. RODGER, George. Dinka Boys.

Bernard J Shapero Rare Books 

VINTAGE AND CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE AFRICAN CONTINENT 



T +44 (0)20 7493 0876 

F +44 (0)20 7495 5010 

roland@shapero.com 

www.shapero.com

Introduction 

Tribal Portraits is a celebration of African culture 

and its peoples captured by western and African 

photographers. Most of the photographs in the 

exhibition are very rare: some have not been on the 

open market for decades, while others are possibly 

unique. This is also, as far as we are aware, the first 

selling show devoted to the history of photography 

in Africa by western and African photographers 

covering the last one-hundred and fifty years. 

Examples of iconic images by renowned 

photographers include Irving Penn’s Dahomey 

Girls (Item 103), George Rodger’s Dinkas (Item 

15), Leni Riefenstahl‘s Nuba series (Item 18) and 

Casimir Zagourski’s Congo (Item 5). These vintage 

photographic portraits are juxtaposed with 

contemporary African photographers Malick Sidibé 

and Seydou Keita. In addition to these famous names 

are the works of Hugo Bernatzik and Pierre Verger 

both of whom took some of the most important 

and beautiful photographs of Africa during the midtwentieth 

century. 

Exhibiting vintage and contemporary prints by 

western and African photographers is an ambitious 

concept. Tribal Portraits is about showing this body 

of photographic portraiture as art. Photographs taken 

in 1856 by Felix Moulin and others from the early 

nineteenth century were intended as historical and 

documentary images. They have survived decades 

and shown in this new and exciting context, next to 

twentieth century and contemporary imagery from 

the African Continent, they survive as works of art. 

Roland Belgrave 

Sophie Elletson

1. ALLEGRET, Marc. 

Sara woman, Chad. 

[c.1927]. Silver gelatin print, fair tonal range and good condition. 

Dimensions: 230 by 160 mm (9 by 6.5 inches). 

ref: 78738 £350 

2. ALLEGRET, Mark. 

Sara woman, Chad. 

[c.1927]. Silver gelatin print, fair tonal range and good condition. 


ref: 75591 £725 

8 Tribal Portraits 

Bernard J Shapero Rare Books

3. [Photographer unknown]. 

Head study, Uganda. Tete d’Outu Mer. 

16 May 1925. Silver gelatin print. J Lou Kouba, Jardin 

d’Acclimatation du Bois de Boulogne written in manuscript on 

verso. Dimensions: 225 by 190mm. (9 by 7.5 inches). 

ref: 78482 £1,600 



9

4. RODGER, George. 

The Acholi tribe, Uganda. 

[c.1950]. Four silver gelatin prints. Stamped, numbered and titled 

on verso, excellent tonal range and condition. 

Dimensions: 295 by 200 mm ( 11.5 by 8 inches). 

Rodger’s ‘The Acholi tribe in Uganda’ is an 

exceptional series of four photographs displaying 

the traditional Bwola dance. One of the four 

has an explanatory caption on the back of 

the photograph: ‘In the dance it symbolises a 

continuous, unchanging element in the lives of the 

people - their ancient traditions and tribal lore’. 

ref: 75596 £6,250 





11

5. ZAGOURSKI, Casimir. 

L’Afrique qui Disparait. 

[c.1930]. Twenty-two silver gelatin prints, postcard size. Very good 

tonal range and in good condition. 

This collection consists of postcards made from 

photographs taken by Casimir Zagourski in 

Africa between 1924 and 1941, which formed a 

part of his overal project, “L’Afrique Qui Disparait” 

(Disappearing Africa). The photos are set in what is 

now the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly 

known as the Belgian Congo), Uganda, Rwanda, 

Burundi, Chad, Kenya, Central African Republic, 

Cameroon, and Congo-Brazzaville. The postcards 

depict a variety of aspects of everyday life in these 

different settings. 

Casimir Zagourski, of Polish parentage, was born in 

the Ukraine in 1880. After a military career in the 

Russian air force and the Polish army, he left Eastern 

Europe and moved to Africa in 1924, settling in 

Leopoldville, now Kinshasa, Congo, where he 

began his career as a photographer. During the next 

seventeen years, until his death in 1941, Zagourski 

traveled around Central Africa photographing its 

people, places, and local traditions. At the same 

time, he established and maintained a store in 

Leopoldville to sell these images as postcards and 

large prints. He also exhibited his work at the Paris 

World’s Fair in 1937. 

ref: 77636 £1,750 



6. ZAGOURSKI, Casimir. 

Ya-Coma Dancer, Belgian Congo. 

[c.1930] Silver gelatin print. Good tonal range and in good 

condtion. Dimensions: 390 by 280 mm (15.5 by 11inches). 

ref: 74908 £2,750 



13


Somali warrior, Ethiopia. 

[c.1880]. Albumen print. Very good tonal range and in good 

condition, pasted on original mount, title in manuscript below. 

Dimensions: 208 by 203mm. (11 by 9 inches). 

ref: 65193 £650 


Somali warriors, Ethiopia. 

[c.1870]. Albumen print. Very good tonal range and in very good 

condition, pasted on original card. 

Dimensions: 175 by 135mm. (7 by 5.5 inches). 

ref: 65671 £650 




Portrait study, East Africa. 

[c.1875]. Albumen print, oval shaped. 

Very good tonal range and in good condition. 

Dimensions: 190 by 140 mm. (7.5 by 5.5 inches). 

A studio portrait of three girls from Ethiopia or 

Sudan, two seated, one standing. A beautiful 

composition, in very good condition. Single images 

from this period which show such an unusual 

informal grouping of the subjects are rare. 

ref: 75187 £1,500 



15

10. BUCHTA, R[ichard]. 

A Zande Binza, (witchdoctor) Southern Sudan. 


condition, pasted on original card, photographers credit and title in 

negative, another title in German manuscript. 


A full length portrait of a Zande Binza or 

witchdoctor standing beside a hut, wearing rattles, 

skins, medicines and other attire. Buchta made an 

excursion to the groups west of the Nile in 1879 

setting out from Juba on 7th July and returning 

there on 26th August. 

ref: 66561 £375 

11. SEBAH, Pascal. 

Sudanese woman. 

[c.1880]. Albumen print. Very good tonal range and in excellent 

condition. Signed, titled and numbered in negative. 

Dimensions: 270 by 200 mm (10.5 by 8 inches). 

ref: 74968 £225 


Sudanese men. 

[c.1870]. Albumen print. Good rich tones and in good condition. 

Photographer’s title and number in negative. 


ref: 60037 £225 



13. VOSSION, Louis. 

Bongo tribe, Sudan. 

[c.1882]. Three albumen prints. Fair tonal range and in good 

condition, pasted on original card, captions in manuscript. 

Dimensions: 155 by 110mm. (6.5 by 4.5 inches). 

Louis Vossion, 1877-1955, a French diplomat 

who undertook postings to Sudan, Pacific, India. 

His interest in photography is suggested to be 

both personal, and professional in its reflection 

of diplomatic duties in remote areas. These three 

photographs are a series taken in the same location 

in Khartoum, Sudan. 

The larger image shows a portrait of a girl from the 

Bongo ethnic group. The Bongo were one of the 

smaller groups of the White Nile region. The girl 

photographed is part of an ancient dance troupe, 

which had performed after the main meal with 

important members of the tribe. She is pictured 

wearing frayed leather garments and an amulet 

hung on a long, leather cord around her neck. 

Bottom left shows a portrait of Fadl-el- Kerim, 

an Arab woman and Aicha, a woman from the 

mountains of Djebel. They are part of the Nouba 

ethnic group, consisting of different peoples 

inhabiting the south of Sudan’s Kordofan province. 

The image in the bottom right shows a group of 

five woman of varied ethnicity, who were slaves 

belonging to Ibrahim Effendi Khalil, leader of the 

Copte colony of Khartoum. 

ref: 78130 £3,250 



17


Napore hunters, northern Karamdja, Sudan. 

[c.1950]. Silver gelatin print. Stamped, numbered and titled on 

verso, excellent tonal range and condition. 

Dimensions: 295 by 210mm ( 11.5 by 8 inches). 

ref: 78754 £1,250 




Dinka Boys. 

1948. Printed 1993. Silver gelatin print. Very good tonal range and 

in good condition. Dimensions: 610 by 510mm. (24 by 20 inches). 

ref: 77483 £5,250 



19


Dinka Girls. 

1948. Printed 1993. Silver gelatin print. Very good tonal range and 

in good condition. Dimensions: 610 by 510mm. (24 by 20 inches). 

ref: 77482 £5,250 




The Nubas of Kordofan, Southern Sudan. 

1949, printed in 1975. Silver gelatin print. Stamped, numbered 

and titled on verso, signed by the photographer, excellent tonal 

range and condition. 


The keyhole entrance to a Nuba house in the 

Korongo Jebels (mountains). Doorways are 

shaped to allow admittance to people carrying 

loads of firewood on their heads. 

ref: 76381 £5,250 



21

18. RIEFENSTAHL, Leni. 

Nuba Dancers of Kau. 

[c.1975]. C-print, numbered in pencil “F 285126” on verso, good 

condition, silk mat paper, Kodak. 


Leni Riefenstahl who in 1975 had spent sixteen 

weeks in a great heat among the Kau Nabu said: ‘It 

had been a time of almost unbearable difficulties 

and physical strain. Without the urge deeply rooted 

in me to chase after the unusual and beautiful 

those pictures would have never been made’. 

ref: 78078 £5,500 



19. HAEKEL, Georg. 

Masai Warriors, Kenya. 

[c.1900]. Silver gelatin print. Fair tonal range and in condition. 

Photographer’s stamp on verso. 

Dimensions: 165 by 115 mm ( 6.5 by 4.5 inches). 

ref: 74969 £225 


Kavirondo tribe, Kenya. 

[c.1905] Silver Gelatin Print. Very good tonal range and in good 

condition. Dimensions: 130 by 130 mm. (5.5 by 5.5 inches). 

ref: 62082 £225 



23

21. COWIE, Mervyn. 

Masai girls, Kenya. 

[c.1960]. Gelatin Silver print, hand tinted. Good condition, 

photographer’s studio stamp on verso. 


Meryvn Cowie was a wellknown wildlife 

conservationist and the founder and first director 

Kenya’s Royal National Parks. 

ref: 76763 £650 

22. COWIE, Mervyn. 

Masai tribesmen, Kenya. 

[c.1960]. Gelatin Silver print, hand tinted. Good condition, 

photographer’s studio stamp on verso. 


ref: 76764 £650 



23. RICCIARDI, Mirella. 

Early morning wait at Lake Rudolf, Kenya. 

1968. Silver gelatin print. Signed on verso, number 3/15 


ref: 78538 £3,750 



25


Laughing Turkana Girls on Sand Dunes, Kenya. 



ref: 78537 £3,750 




Masai Bride, Kenya. 



ref: 78540 £3,750 



27


Two Rendille, adjusting jewellery, Kenya. 

1967. Platinum print. Signed on verso, number 3/8 


ref: 78693 £7,000 




Young Turkana Girl with Giant Tilapia, Kenya. 



ref: 78539 £3,750 



29


Wagogo Tribesman, Tanzania. 

1948, printed circa 1975. Silver gelatin print. Stamped on verso, 

signed by the photographer, excellent tonal range and condition. 


Boys from the Wagogo tribe in Tanzania wear 

special headdresses for the circumcision ceremony. 

George Rodger celebrated ritualistic and ceremonial 

lifestyle that was key to African tribes. 

ref: 76302 £5,250 



29. VINCENTI, C. 

Caravan of men carrying Ivory, East Africa. 

[c.1898]. Silver gelatin print. Good tonal range and in good 

condition, photographer’s credit in negative. 


ref: 77687 £750 

30. GOMES, A.C. 

Group portrait, Zanzibar. 

[c.1890]. Silver gelatin print. Photographer’s studio stamp on 

verso. Dimensions: 180 by 150mm. (7 by 6 inches). 

ref: 78710 £250 



31


Chief Kingo. Kingo - Mkubwa. 

[c.1898]. Two silver gelatin prints. Good tonal range and in good 

condition, photographer’s blindstamp in one of the images. 


African man with a fierce look and wearing a 

traditional, brocade-decorated joho 

ref: 75964 £2,500 




Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. 

[c.1880]. Eight albumen prints, including a two-part panorama, 

fair tonal range and in good condition, pasted on original card, 

photographer’s blind stamp on some and title in negative. 

Dimensions: panorama 210 by 550mm. (8.5 by 21.5 inches) others 

120 by 170mm. (5 by 6.5 inches). 

ref: 76766 £3,250 



33


Group portrait, East Africa. 


condition, photographer’s blindstamp. 


ref: 75967 £1,500 


M’baruk B. Raschid. 


condition, photographer’s blindstamp. Dimensions: 225 by 

170mm. (9 by 6.5 inches). 

ref: 77693 £750 




M’suguma dancers, Tanzania. 


condition. Dimensions: 225 by 170mm. (9 by 6.5 inches). 

ref: 77695 £1,750 



35


Man from the Magwangwara tribe, Tanzania. 

Ongoni. mit.Tabaksdose. Magwangwara. 




ref: 77696 £1,250 


Man from the Magwangwara tribe, Tanzania. 

Ongoni. mit.Tabaksdose. Magwangwara. 




ref: 77697 £1,250 



38. [VINCENTI, C]. 



condition, photographer’s credit in negative. 


ref: 75966 £750 



[c.1898]. Albumen print. Good tonal range and in good condition, 

photographer’s blindstamp. 


ref: 75968 £500 



37


Rumaliza. 




Mohammed bin Hassan Rumaliza (Rumaliza in 

Swahili meaning ‘The one who utterly finishes’) 

was born around 1850. He was sultan of Ujiji, a city 

located on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika in 

Tanzania and one of the main local slave markets. 

Although he was regarded as an Arabic-Swahili, 

ethnically he was Arabic. He was very well known 

in the 1880s and 1890s for his violent and ruthless 

actions in conjunction with the conquest and 

exploration of Central African countries, particularly 

his involvement in the slave and ivory trades. 

ref: 77689 £1,250 


Soliman bin Nasr. 



ref: 77694 £1,250 




Sultan Mai Chemba. 




ref: 77692 £750 


Two men, Tanzania. 



Dimensions: 230 by 165mm. (9 by 6.5 inches.). 

ref: 75969 £750 



39


Wali, Lindi, Tanzania. 



Lindi - coastal town in southeastern Tanzania 

ref: 77691 £500 


Wali Mohamed bin Salim, Mikindani. 




Mikindani - coastal African town in south-eastern 

Tanzania 

ref: 77690 £750 


Woman with large, ivory lip-plug. Weib. mit 

Oberlippen-Schmuck. I 




ref: 77688 £525 



47. ACEBES, Hector. 

Tanzania. 

1953. Silver gelatin print. Signed on verso in pencil, edition #8/10, 

printed on Agfa fiber paper. Dimensions: 468 by 568mm. 

(18.5 by 22.5 inches). 

ref: 78530 £3,250 



41

48. ACEBES, Hector. 

Unidentified woman, Benin. 

1953. Silver gelatin print. Signed on verso in pencil, Artists proof 1/3 


A superb portrait, and sold out in the original edition of 10. 

ref: 78529 £5,250 



49. [George Washington Wilson & Co. 

(attributed to)]. 

Woman in Moroccan dress, Tangiers. 

[c.1870] Albumen print. Good tonal range and in good condition, 

pasted to original page. 


ref: 73308 £450 





pasted to original page. Dimensions: 215 by 170mm. 

(8.5 by 6.5 inches). 

ref: 73309 £450 





pasted to original page. Dimensions: 215 by 170mm. 

(8.5 by 6.5 inches). 

ref: 74224 £450 



43

52. GRAFF, Stephane. 

Aisoua knife dance, Meknes, Morocco. 

2006. Toned silver gelatin silver print. Print number 2 of 20. 

Dimensions of image: 330 by 300mm. (13 by 12 inches). 

ref: 78557 £1,500 




Harakat nude, Morocco. 

2006. Platinum print. Print number 2 of 10. 

Dimensions of image: 495 by 285mm. (19.5 by 11.5 inches). 

ref: 78558 £4,000 



45


Marrakech ramparts, Morocco. 


Dimensions of image: 330 by 300mm. (13 by 12 inches). 

ref: 78554 £1,500 




Seeham with dish, Taroudant, Morocco. 


Dimensions of image: 345 by 290mm. (13.5 by 11.5 inches). 

ref: 78559 £1,500 



47


Seeham with dish, Taroudant, Morocco. 


Dimensions of image: 360 by290mm. (14 by 11.5 inches). 

ref: 78560 £1,500 




Tribal gathering, Tan Tan, Western Sahara, 

Morocco. 


Dimensions of image: 305 by 390mm. (12 by 15.5 inches). 

ref: 78555 £1,500 



49

58. LEHNERT AND LANDROCK. 

North African nude. 


condition. Studio stamp and number in negative. 

Dimensions: 240 by 180 mm (9.5 by 7 inches). 

ref: 74944 £650 

59. LEHNERT AND LANDROCK 

North African nude. . 


condition. Studio stamp and number in negative. 


ref: 74945 £650 



60. LEHNERT AND LANDROCK 



condition. Studio stamp in negative. 

Dimensions: 165 by 215mm ( 6.5 by 8.5inches). 

ref: 74946 £650 




condition, photographer’s number in negative. Dimensions: 220 by 

165mm. (9 by 6.5 inches). 

ref: 76375 £650 



51



[c.1920]. Silver gelatin print. Very good tonal range and in very 

good condition, photographer’s studio stamp in bottom left. 


ref: 75761 £2,250 



63. MOULIN, Felix Jacques-Antoine. 

African women, Algeria. 


condition, title in manuscript. Dimensions: 220 by 165mm. 

(8.5 by 6.5 inches). 

ref: 76454 £1,500 



53


Algerian Jewess. 



(8.5 by 6.5 inches). 

ref: 76452 £1,750 




Algerian school. 



(6.5 by 8.5 inches). 

ref: 76451 £1,250 


Dervishes, Algeria. 


condition, title in manuscript. Dimensions: 165 by 220mm. ( 

6.5 by 8.5 inches). 

ref: 76450 £1,250 


Harem, Algeria. 



(8.5 by 6.5 inches). 

ref: 76455 £1,500 



55


Oulid Nail women, Algeria.. 



(8.5 by 6.5 inches). 

ref: 76453 £1,750 





[c.1870]. Albumen print. Fair tonal range and in good condition, 

photographer’s number in negative. Dimensions: 180 by 245mm. 

(7 by 10 inches). 

ref: 76376 £1,250 


Women of Algiers. 


pasted on original mount, title in manuscript on label attached to 

mount. Dimensions: 250 by 190mm. (10 by 7.5 inches). 

ref: 64124 £275 



[c.1880]. Albumen print. Very good tonal range and in excellent 

condition. Dimensions: 240 by 180mm. (9.5 by 7 inches). 

ref: 74894 £750 



57

72. SEBAH, P[ascal]. 

Egyptian woman. Type de Jeune Femme Arabe. 

[c.1870] Albumen print. Very good tonal range and in fine 

condition, photographers credit, title and number in negative. 


ref: 65422 £2,000 



73. HART, Ludovic, Woolfgang. 

Veiled woman, Cairo, Egypt. Bourgeoise du Caire 

musulmane. 

A. Varrocquier & Cie., 57 Rue de Seine, Paris [c.1865]. Albumen 

print. Good tonal range and in good condition, pasted on original 

card, publishers imprint below image and title pasted on the back. 

Numbered 26 on the back. Part of the series ‘Galerie Universelle des 

Peuples’. Dimensions: 115 by 180mm. (4.5 by 7 inches). 

ref: 66319 £375 


Nachago Sultan and his six wives. 

[c.1890]. Silver gelatin print. Title in manuscript. 


ref: 75631 £275 



59


African hairstyle. 

[c.1950]. Silver gelatin print. Good tonasl range and in good 

condition, photographer’s title in German manuscript. 


ref: 78753 £475 


Mondang women, Cameroon. 

[c.1927]. Silver gelatin print. Dimensions: 230 by 160 mm 

(9 by 6.5 inches). 

ref: 78736 £625 




Mondang women, Cameroon. 



ref: 78737 £425 


Banso woman, Cameroon. 

[c.1950]. Silver gelatin print. Very good tonal range and in good 

condition. Photographer’s stamp on verso (illegible). 

Dimensions: 155 by 205 mm ( 6 by 8 inches). 

ref: 75627 £725 

79. ALLEGRET, Mark. 

Musgum children, Cameroon. 


(8.5 by 5 inches). 

The Musgum or Moupoui are an ethnic group in 

Cameroon and Chad. 

ref: 76244 £625 



61

80. BERNATZIK, Hugo. 

A Bidyogo king’s boat, Bubaque island. 

[c.1930]. Silver gelatin print. Printed title, description and 

photographer’s copyright stamp on verso. 


At the funeral of a king or other royalty, the boat 

was filled with flowers and gifts to their ancestors 

and floated out to sea. Such boats were banned 

by the Portuguese to stop the local people from 

escaping. 

Hugo Adolf Bernatzik (1897 – 1953) was well known 

as an ethnographer and photographer. During his 

travels he became fascinated with the people he 

encountered. This fascination materialized into 

powerful and compelling photographic images 

which both document the environment of these 

people and capture the beauty of a traditional 

Africa. Throughout his life Bernatzik also undertook 

research in a variety of African countries, such as 

Guinea-Bissau, at the time known as Portuguese 

Guinea, and countries beyond Africa, including 

Southeast Asia. His photographs convey his 

extraordinary talent for capturing the traditions 

and customs of the Africans. He caught a tropical 

disease on his last trip to Morocco and died in1953 

at the age of fifty-six. During the Second World War 

most of his work and equipment was destroyed in 

a fire in Austria and only one almost complete set 

has survived. 

ref: 78690 £3,500 




Bidyogo women in initiation dance, Etikoka. 


photographer’s copyright stamp on verso. Dimensions: 140 by 

185mm. (5.5 by 7 inches). 

ref: 78688 £3,850 



63


Ceremonial dancer, Pepel, Sierra Leone. 




The dancer balances a model of the traditional 

funeral boat on her head in celebration of the 

afterlife. 

ref: 78687 £3,500 




Wrestling girls, Southern Abayot, Guinea-Bissau 




ref: 78686 £3,500 

84. DELACHAUX ,Theodore and THIEBAUD, 

Charles. E. 

A Tyivokwe mask. The Tyikusa god is linked to 

circumcision ceremonies. 

[c.1932]. Silver gelatin print, Very good tonal range and in good 

condition, mounted on card. Dimensions: 230 by 175mm. 


This is a collection of photographs from the 

Second Mission Scientific en Angola. The Musee 

d’Ethnographie de Neuchatel are the keeper of the 

collection from the expedition, however apparently 

in their archive they have none of the photographs 

similar in size or quality to the ones shown here. 

ref: 77745 £750 



65


Charles. E. 

Young ‘vongolo’ girl in marriage initiation 

ceremony. 




The ceremony was performed by order of the 

queen, at whose home the girls reside for one 

year before the marriage initiation. For certain 

ceremonies the girls decorated their face and body 

with white earth. 

ref: 78742 £750 


Charles. E. 

Young woman from the Tyimba tribe. 




ref: 78743 £750 




Charles. E. 

African sorcery. 




This scene is set near Mupa, at the home of the Evale 

people. The head sorcerer of the tribe, wearing 

the mane of a zebra, is examining candidates in 

sorcery. 

ref: 78744 £550 


Charles. E. 

Young girl from the Tyipungu tribe. 




ref: 78745 £750 



67


Charles. E. 

Young girl from the Nyemba tribe. 




ref: 78746 £750 


Charles. E. 

Children from the Humbe tribe. 




ref: 77740 £750 




Charles. E. 

Man wearing a mask. 




ref: 77730 £750 


Charles. E. 

Woman from the Caluquembe tribe. 




ref: 77741 £750 



69


Charles. E. 

Young man from the Humbe tribe. 




ref: 77737 £750 


Charles. E. 

Young woman. 




ref: 77747 £750 




Charles. E. 

Young woman carrying water. 




ref: 77728 £750 


Charles. E. 

Young woman from the Humbe tribe. 




ref: 77736 £750 



71


Charles. E. 





ref: 77738 £750 


Charles. E. 





ref: 77739 £750 


Charles. E. 

Young woman from the royal residence of 

Nyemba. 




ref: 77746 £750 




Charles. E. 





ref: 77744 £1,250 


Charles. E. 

Young women from the Cuanyama with their 

fishing nets. 




ref: 77748 £1,250 



73

102. KEITA, Seydou. 

Untitled (Young Couple). 

[c.1956, printed 1998]. Gelatin silver print. Very good condition, signed and 

dated in ink in the margin. Dimensions: 520 by 375mm. 

(20.5 by 15 inches). 

When Keita was first shown in New York at the Gagosian 

Gallery in 1997 the show created quite a stir. Margarett 

Loke, writing in The New York Times, described Seydou 

Keïta as “the man who brought renewed vitality to the art 

of photographic portraiture.” The photos on the wall of 

the Gagosian were very large later prints (48 by 60 inches) 

from the negatives taken in Africa during the 1950’s. 

Since he was introduced to the contemporary photography 

market his name has become synonymous with modern 

African photography, making its way into collections 

all over the world. His portraits are captivating and very 

modern. Before the Gagosian show he was shown in Paris 

at the Cartier Foundation and the Scalo Gallery in Zurich in 

1997 both of which showed images reproduced to 20 by 

24 inches (original size being 5 by 7 inches). 

In 1948 he set up a commercial studio in downtown 

Bamako. He was poor, so he made prints using a 5-by-7- 

inch view camera, by placing the negative directly against 

the photographic paper, used his bed sheet as a backdrop, 

and photographed outdoors using available light. Despite 

these basic technical obstacles, he revealed his subjects 

as they had not been seen before: wearing Western suits 

and bow ties, sitting on motorbikes or holding radios. 

Furthermore, it was a mixture of Western dress and African 

poses, African dress and Western poses which gave these 

portraits such an edge of originality. 

ref: 78160 £8,500 



103. PENN, Irving. 

Five Dahomey Girls, One Standing. 

[1967]. Printed before 1974. Gelatin silver print, signed, initialled, dated, 

numbered 4413 in ink, Penn/Conde Nast copyright credit reproduction 

limitation stamps on reverse of mount, silver prints of this negative not exceeding 

23 on verso. Dimensions: paper size 350 by 350mm. (13½ x 13½ inches.). 

These particular girls belong to the Tofino and Aizo tribes of 

the Dahomey. Their ancestors, the Fon women, the Amazons 

of the Kingdom of Dahomey, carried arms and were the Kings 

guard. The way they wrap their turbans gives a clue to their 

status whether brides or girls in search of a husband. 

Dahomey was the name of a country in west Africa now 

called the Republic of Benin. The Kingdom of Dahomey 

was a powerful west African state founded in the 

seventeenth century which survived until 1894. From 

1894 until 1960 Dahomey was a part of French West Africa. 

The independent Republic of Dahomey existed from 

1960-1975. In 1975, the country was re-named Benin after 

the Bight of Benin (not the unrelated historical Kingdom 

of Benin) since “Benin”, unlike “Dahomey”, was deemed 

politically neutral for all ethnic groups in the state. 

ref: 77549 £19,500 



75


African chief with harem. 

[c.1880]. Albumen print. Good tonal range and in good condition. 

Dimensions: 135 by 205 (5.3 by 8 inches). 

ref: 74962 £425 


Nigerian women. 

[c.1950]. Silver gelatin print, excellent tonal range and condition. 

Dimensions: 75 by 75 mm ( 3 by 3 inches). 

ref: 75583 £175 




Yoruba chief accompanied by two men. 

[c.1880]. Albumen print. Fair tonal range and in good condition. 

Dimensions: 195 by 135 mm (7.8 by 5.5inches). 

ref: 74956 £225 


Fulani Girls, Nigeria. 

[c.1950]. Silver gelatin print, good tonal range and condition. 

Dimensions: 140 by 90 mm ( 5.5 by 3.5 inches). 

ref: 75584 £175 



77

108. SIDIBE, Malick. 

‘C’est pas ma faute’. 

1968. Silver gelatin print. Signed in manuscript, titled and dated 

2007. A unique print in this size. Dimensions: 500 by 600mm. 

(19.5 by 23.5 inches). 

ref: 78527 £2,750 



109. SIDIBE, Malick. 

‘Yokoro’. 

1968. Silver gelatin print. Signed in manuscript, titled and dated 

2007. Dimensions: 500 by 600mm. (19.5 by 23.5 inches). 

Malick Sidibé’s photographs are comprised mainly 

of studio portraits and photo coverage of life in 

Mali. His work on the streets of Bamako signals an 

important moment in the evolution of photography 

in West Africa in the 1960s and ‘70s. Moving away 

from the ingrained, Western image of a devastated 

Africa, Sidibé aimed to capture the verve and 

frenzy of Malian culture. His studio photography 

is quirky, yet glamorous using unusual backdrops 

and patterned fabrics which are emblematic of his 

studio compositions. 

ref: 78528 £4,250 



79

110. VERGER, Pierre. 

Priests of Obatala, Ife, Nigeria. 

1949/1992 Silver gelatin print. Signed and dated on verso. Edition 

2/4. Dimensions: 270 by 265mm. (10.5 by 10.5 inches). 

ref: 78804 £2,750 




Iliara, Nigeria. 



ref: 78805 £3,750 



81


Somba warrior, Benin. 



ref: 78806 £3,750 




Pottery, Abomey, Benin. 



ref: 78809 £2,750 



83


Sakpata, master of the earth (Ayinon), danse, 

Abomy, Benin. 



ref: 78810 £3,750 



115. SCHNECK, Antoine. 

Mariam Bande, Mahadagha, Burkina Faso, West 

Africa. 

2008. Pigment print on diasec print. Signed and dated by the 

photographer, edition 7/25. Dimensions: 400 by 300mm. 

(16 by 11.5 inches). 

This photograph is one of a series of editioned 

portraits studies by Antoine Schneck. They have 

been printed in this smaller size of 400 by 300mm. 

and the larger 1060 by 800mm. 

While taking the picture, the model does not 

see the photographer or the camera and he or 

she is isolated from all environmental elements 

that could evoke an atmosphere. With both 

photographer and subject housed under a 

translucent tent, the model is sheathed in a black 

cowl with a simple black sheet for a background. 

The camera lens peeks through a hole in the sheet 

and light from the flashes is uniformly distributed 

on the model. In this way, only the face of the 

model is highlighted. 

ref: 78828 £1,250 



85

116. BARNETT and Co. 

Zulus. 


condition, photographer’s number in negative. 


ref: 74225 £450 

117. BARNETT and Co. 

Zulus. 

[c.1880]. Albumen print. Fair tonal range and fair condition. Pasted 

on card. Title in negative. Dimensions: 200 by 140mm 

(8 by 5.5inches). 

ref: 74964 £450 



118. [BUCHTA, R[ichard] (attributed to)]. 

Zulus. 

[c.1880]. Albumen print. Good tonal range and in fair condition, 

pasted on original card. Dimensions: 195 by 140mm. 


ref: 71204 £325 


Zulus. 

[c.1880]. Albumen print. Fair tonal range and in fair condition, 

pasted on original card. Dimensions: 195 by 140mm. 


ref: 71206 £225 



87


Azande Tribeswoman. 

[c.1880]. Albumen print. Fair range and in fair condition, pasted on 

original card. Dimensions: 195 by 140mm. (8 by 5.5 inches). 

ref: 71207 £225 

121. CANEY, Benjamin William. 

Zulus. 

[c.1880]. Albumen print. Fair tonal range and in fair condition, 

photographer’s number in negative. Dimensions: 155 by 205mm. 


ref: 76314 £1,250 

122. [CANEY (attributed to)]. 

Zulus. 

[c.1880]. Albumen print. Good rich tones and in good condition. 

Slight sunning around the edges. Dimensions: 130 by 190mm. 

(5.5 by 7.5 inches). 

ref: 60275 £175 



123. [CANEY, Benjamin William (attributed to)]. 

Zulus. 



ref: 61887 £175 


Zulus. 


Dimensions: 190 by 140mm (7.5 by 5.5 inches) 

ref: 74898 £850 



89


Zulus. 

[c.1885]. Albumen print. Good tonal range and in excellent 

condition. Mounted on card. Dimensions: 200 by 150 mm 

( 8 by 6 inches). 

ref: 75185 £750 

126. EPSTEIN, Sallo. 

Zulus. 

[c.1903] Silver gelatin print. Good tonal range and fair condition. 

Copyright stamp on verso. Dimensions: 160 by 210 mm (6.5 by 8 

inches). 

ref: 74947 £525 



127. EVANS, F.W. 

Zulus. 

[c.1880]. Cabinet card. Fair tonal range and in good condition. 

From the series ‘Farini’s Friendly Zulus’. 

Dimensions: 140 by 100mm. (5.5 by 4 inches). 

ref: 74228 £625 

128 HAYNES, E. 

Zulus. 


condition. Press and archive stamp on verso. 

Dimensions: 200 by 150 mm (8 by 6 inches). 

ref: 74966 £195 

129. MIDDLEBROOK, J.E. 

Zulus. 


condition, photographer’s credit, title and number in negative. 


ref: 76771 £250 



91


Warrior, Sehuli. 

[c.1885]. Two albumen prints. Fair tonal range and in good 

condition, pasted on original card. Dimensions: 145 by 90mm. 

(6 by 4 inches) each. 

ref: 71214 £175 


Zulu. 

[c.1880]. Cabinet card. Fair tonal range and in good condition. 


ref: 75630 £175 




Zulus. 



ref: 74227 £325 


Zulus. 

[c.1880]. Albumen print. Fair tonal range and in good condition, 

pasted on original mount. Dimensions: 140 by 200mm. (5.5 by 8 

inches). 

ref: 64125 £150 



93


Zulus. 

[c.1880]. Large albumen print. Very good tonal range and in good 

condition, photographer’s number in negative. Dimensions: 280 by 

235mm. (11 by 9.5 inches). 

ref: 74226 £2,250 


Zulus. 

[c.1880]. Two albumen prints. Good tonal range and in good 

condition, pasted on original mount, photographers title and 

number in negative. Further later title in manuscript on mount. 

Dimensions: 155 by 200mm. (6 by 8 inches). and 200 by 160mm. 


ref: 63526 £625 




Slaves with soldier, South Africa. 

[c.1880] Albumen print, pasted on card, good condition and with 

good tonal range. Dimensions: 220 by 140mm (8.5 by 4.5 inches). 

ref: 63509 £475 

137. BARNETT & Co. 

Magato girls, Johanesburg, South Africa. 


condition, photographer’s title and credit in negative. 


ref: 75965 £575 



95


Zulus. 



ref: 75501 £525 


Basotho women, South Africa. 

[c.1900]. Silver gelatin print pasted on card. Ink title in margin, 

good tonal range and condition. Dimensions: 150 by 105 mm 


ref: 75585 £275 


Fingo women, South Africa. 

[c.1880]. Cabinet card. Title in manuscript, fair tonal range and 

good condition. Dimensions: 165 by 110mm (6.5 by 4.3 inches). 

ref: 75578 £375 




Bechuanaland. 

[c.1890]. Twenty-seven albumen prints, all with very good tonal 

range and in good condition, eleven of the prints have been slightly 

cropped into the original photo, printed titles. Dimensions: 145 by 

200mm. (6 by 8 inches). 

Bechuanaland was a protectorate established on 

March 31, 1885, by the United Kingdom in southern 

Africa. It became the Republic of Botswana on 30 

September 1966. This group of photographs show 

interesting portraits of Chief Kama III with his wife 

and surrounding area.To counter threats from 

neighboring Africans and from the Boers (Afrikaners) 

of S Africa, chief Khama and other chiefs arranged 

(1885) for Great Britain to make Bechuanaland 

a protectorate. Despite the opposition of many 

British imperialists wishing to undermine the chief’s 

authority, this status was confirmed when Khama 

III made a journey to England in 1895. Khama III’s 

firm leadership eliminated much of the internal 

dissension that had divided his people. Other views 

show the fort of Matlaputla, and fort Victoria. 

ref: 77548 £3,500 



97


Group of African portraits. 

[c.1900]. Silver gelatin prints. Five rare studio portraits, all in good 

condition with rich tonal range. Dimensions: 115 by 90mm. 

(4.5 by 3.5 inches). 

ref: 75586 £1,750 




Group portrait. 


condition. Dimensions: 170 by 220mm. (6.5 by 8.5 inches). 

ref: 74229 £475 


Reclining woman. 


Numbered in negative. Dimensions: 95 by 140 mm 


ref: 74970 £125 



99


Zanzibar, Tanzania. 

[c.1890]. Fourteen albumen prints. Fair tonal range and in 

good condition, pasted on original board, title in manuscript. 

Dimensions: 220 by 280mm. (8.5 by 11 inches). 

Views include street scenes from the old ‘stone 

quarter’, the bazaar, the port and sultan’s palace 

viewed from the water, house of wonders and 

portraits of the Sultan, possibly ‘Sayyid Barghash 

bin Said Al-Busaid’ second Sultan of Zanzibar and 

others, possibly members of the Sultans immediate 

family., 

ref: 76767 £3,750 




Views of Tangier, Morocco. 

[c.1875]. Ten albumen prints. Good to fair tonal range, pasted on 

original card, titles in manuscript in French. 


Views include the town gates, market, views 

of Hotel ‘Villa de France’ and from this building 

towards the sea. 

ref: 76768 £2,000 



101


Views of Morocco. 

[c.1920]. Small oblong 4to, 155 by 380mm. Sixty-four silver 

gelatin prints 90 by 300mm., all with good tonal range and in good 

condition, titles in manuscript in French, contemporary half calf. 

A rare panoramic collection. A picturesque tour 

of Marocco, starting with the entrance to the 

port of Tangier and various views of the town and 

surrounding area. The views then follow the route 

to Fez and the towns of Tetouan and Casablanca 

showing various topographical scenes of markets, 

interiors and town views. This panoramic format 

from Marocco is rare to find. 

ref: 77545 £4,500 



148. Maison Garrigues and Neurdein brothers. 

Algeria. 

[c.1880]. Sixty albumen prints. Good tonal range and in good 

condition, pasted on card, titles in manuscript, 205 by 270mm. 

(two panoramas 185 by 470mm.) loose, stored in archival box. 

Mostly topographical views, with some city views 

from Algiers, Biskra, Constantine and Tunis. The 

ancient site of Carthage is shown as is various 

Mosques including Kairouan and views of the 

Sahara desert. Portraits of nomads and travelling 

caravans are also part of this collection. 

ref: 72703 £3,500 



103


Togolese Republic, West Africa. 

[c.1910]. Oblong Folio (210 by 270mm.), twenty-five silver gelatin 

prints, each approximately (130 by 170mm.), green clothe boards. 

In an 1884 treaty signed at Togoville, Germany 

declared a protectorate over a stretch of territory 

along the coast and gradually extended its control 

inland. This became the German colony Togoland 

in 1905. After the German defeat during World 

War I in August 1914 at the hands of British troops 

(coming from the Gold Coast) and the French 

troops (coming from Dahomey), Togoland became 

two League of Nations mandates, administered by 

the United Kingdom and France. 

ref: 78755 £2,750 



150. MOREAU Brothers. Mali and Guinee. 

[c.1895]. Oblong 4to (255 by 370mm.). Two volumes, ninetyseven 

albumen prints, 120 by 160mm., fair to good tonal range 

and in good condition, numbered index with titles in manuscript 

in French and corresponding numers against photographs, 

contemporary half-calf over green boards. 

These albums are dedicated to General Gustave 

Borgnis-Desbordes, the colonial head of Mali from 

6 September 1880 until 3 September 1883, with 

a hand written inscription in French in ink on the 

inside cover of both albums. An interesting set of 

albums showing architectural details of towns in 

Mali and Guinee. Mainly topographical, however 

there are some portrait studies. Towns shown and 

listed in index are Segou, Koniakary, Moro, Diena, 

Kayes and a number of unidentified locations in 

Western Africa. 

ref: 76359 £5,500 



105


Angola Albums. 

[c.1905]. 4to. Early twentieth century black morocco, rebacked and 

recornered, scuffed and rubbed. One hundred and fifty two gelatin 

silver prints and carbon prints ranging in size from 110 by 155mm. 

through to 180 by 250mm. Titles in manuscript. 

Two albums. The Banguella railway and the various 

locations along its route are captured in the first 

album. Notable images of the natives of Kimamba 

and Kutata and scenic sections of the rail route. 

The second album covers the River Kuanja area 

with topographical scenes and a number of 

portrait studies. 

Both albums together form an interesting and rare 

early survey study of Angola. 

ref: 62486 £2,750 



152. [Photographer unknown]. Central Africa. 

[c.1905]. Thirty- two photographs pasted on original mounts, 

some with captions on verso in German manuscript, photographs 

all roughly 102 by 107mm. 

A large group of portrait and topographical images 

from central and western Africa. 

ref: 65186 £950 



107

153. [Photographer unknown] 

Ethiopia and Eritrea. 

[c.1930] Oblong 4to. (240 by 320 mm). Album bound with red 

morocco boards, upper cover gilt with title and stylised pictorial 

engraving. sixty seven pages with two-hundred and sixty five 

silver-gelatin mounted photographs and six loose photographs 

(ranging from 160 by 120mm to 120 by 460mm). Titled in English 

and Itlian in manuscript. Very good tonal range and mostly in 

excellent condition; boards somewhat rubbed and repaired with 

linen tape, corners bumped. 

A remarkable album of sociological and historical 

importance It contains over 90 portraits, 75 

views of lanscape and architecture including ten 

panoramas. Views include Asmara, Gondar, Dehat, 

Lake Tana, Axumiti, The Ghinda Valley, Adi Ugri and 

Agondat. Also included are a number of mosques 

and castles, and mural paintings. 

ref: 74910 £2750 





109


Sudan. 

[c.1912]. Oblong small folio (230 by 290mm.) Thirty-nine 

mounted gelatin silver print photos, images mostly approximately 

90 by 110mm., pasted back to back on album leaves throughout, 

contemporary cloth, frayed. 

An inscription in the front indicates that this may 

have been compiled by E. D. Bally, Major, 2nd 

Light Infantry. 

Most images depicting native people, many posed 

portraits of groups of women and some of men, 

a few river scenes and background images of 

dwellings, largely uncaptioned, though one noting 

the tallest girl the photographer had seen, another 

of the oldest woman in the tribe, one on the front 

pastedown captioned ‘Colours of the “Ninth”, Wau, 

Bahr al Ghazal, 1912. 

ref: 77485 £3,200 




Somalia. 

[c.1930]. Oblong 4to. (370 by 220mm). One-hundred and twentyseven 

postcards, 85 by 140mm. Green silk cloth, striking metal art 

nouveau pattern. 

An interesting collection of photographs from an 

Italian missionary working in Somalia. 

Fascist Italy, under Benito Mussolini attacked 

Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), with an aim to colonize 

it, in 1935. The invasion was condemned by the 

League of Nations, but little was done to stop it or 

to liberate occupied Ethiopia. 

Following the war the United Nations gave Somalia 

as a protectorate to Italy in 1949. The Ogaden 

province of Somalia was given to the re-established 

Ethiopian government by the British Empire, which 

kept British Somaliland under its protection/ 

rule. The French also kept Djibouti under colonial 

administration, until eventual independence in 

1977. Italian Somaliland gained its independence 

from Italy on 1 July 1960. 

ref: 77631 £1,250 



111

156. HARRIS, R. 

South Africa. 

Cape Town. [c.1884]. Folio, maroon, diced calf, gilt, lettered in 

guilt. One hundred and eight albumen prints ranging from 140 by 

210mm. through to 265 by 340mm. Good tonal range and in fair 

condition, some foxing on mounts and occasional spotting 

on prints. 

A good album showing topographical and city 

views of Cape Town, Port Elizebeth, Kimberley 

and a number of other mining locations including 

De Beers. There are good group portraits of Zulu 

Warriors and other portraits of miners. 

ref: 62484 £3,250 



157. CANEY, B W. South Africa. 

[c.1885]. Oblong 4to, 230 by 280mm ( 9 by 11 inches); Thirty eight 

albumen prints, pasted on album page, overall good condition and 

good tonal range, many signed and titled in negative, others titled 

in manuscript, some foxing to edges of album pages, contemporary 

diced calf, gilt border and brass monogram to centre of upperboard, 

marbled endpapers. Dimensions: 140 by 200mm (5.5 by 8 inches). 

Views of Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg as well 

as rural scenes, twelve portraits, and a panorama. 

of Cape Town. 

ref: 76126 £4,750 



113


South Africa. 

[c.1880]. Folio (370 by 290mm.). An album containing views and 

native studies around Durban and Natal, seventy-four albumen 

prints (160 by 200mm.), mounted, captioned below in ink, 

contemporary morocco, rubbed. 

Includes: Equefa Sugar Mills, Hot Sulphur 

Springs at Komati (Transvaal), Off to the Gold 

Fields, Bartberton, Ladysmith, Kraal and Natives 

‘up country’ (Natal), Tugela Railway Bridge, 

Umgeni Railway Bridge, Christian Zulu Girls, Zulu 

Kraal on the Drakensberg, Best Natal Wagon 

(made by J. Merryweather and Sons), Cape 

Town, Table Mountain, Zulu Girls and Bananas, 

Pietermaritzburg, Curing (tanning) a goat’s skin, 

making fire, vessel stranded on Back Beach 

(Durban). 

ref: 74079 £3,750 






T +44 (0)20 7493 0876 

F +44 (0)20 7495 5010 

roland@shapero.com 

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Tribal Portraits - Shapero Rare Books

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