Photo Collections

PTO026PTO026

Collection of small snapshots from the Abyssinian War. Local goat market, nice photos of Abyssinian militia, Abyssinian nobles meeting with Italians, fantasia, Mussolini monument. No description. 41 photos. M

Price: $380.00

PTO033PTO033

Two photos of Italian Carabinieri in Abyssinia, during a hunting trip. Ascaris in attendance. There was an Eritrean version of Caribinieri called ‘’Zaptie’’ These detachments participated in the 1936 Abyssinian War and the East Africa Campaign of WW2. In 1941 in Somalia and Ethiopia 2,186 Zaptìe (plus 500 recruits under training) formed part of the Carabinieri. They were organized in a battalion commanded by Major Alfredo Serranti that defended Culqualber (Ethiopia) for three months until this military unit was destroyed by the Allies. In this battle, Muntaz (corporal) Unatu Endisciau of the LXXII Zaptie (I° Gruppo Carabinieri) Battalion was the only "soldier of color" to be awarded the Italian Gold Medal of Military Valor. After WWII a former member of the Zaptìe corps, Siad Barre, became President of Somalia from 1969 to 1991. No description. M

Price: $60.00

PTO042PTO042

A nice collection of 61 photo snaps, mostly of Ethiopians in local settings, some military. Good photo selection of the obelisk at Axum before it was looted and shipped to Rome as a war trophy in 1937 (despite a 1947 UN agreement to return the obelisk it was not returned until 2004-2005 because the runway at Axum airport was insufficient and the original exit route through Massuwa was not possible because of the tensions between Eritrea and Ethiopia). Good for studying different Abyssinian types. No descriptions. M

Price: $590.00

PTO055

Collection of 4 photographic postcards on Axum. Ed. E Fot. Gaslini – Asmara. 2,5,11,13  ASK FOR AVAILABILITY

Price: $80.00

APH 123APH 123

Four photographs from the office of the Governor of Eritrea (with original envelope) of a lumber mill in Eritrea, c1925. Descriptions written on back. M

Price: $150.00

APH 090APH 090

An interesting collection of 30 photos from early Eritrea, dated between 1900 to 1914. The photographers name was Quinto Rossi and he is based at Saganetti, following the disasterous defeat just 12 years earlier. Shots of road construction by hand, Marine commander S.C. Martini preparing for the assault, Colonial battalions (Note: the first Eritrean battalion was raised in 1888), rare shot of Ramadan festival in Saganeiti in 1907, shots of Saganeiti showing European and native dwellings together, Eritrean and Italian troops seemingly picnicing at Mai Seran in 1905 but there is clear segregation between the two groups, Coptic clergy at Sabderat, Italian fort at Adi Caie, Italians and local at Barasio in 1904, two muslim Eritrean Ascaris mentioned by full name, church art in Digsa, other interesting photos. All photos are described and in most cases dated, on reverse. Some quite faded due to age. 

NOTE: The Battle of Saganeiti, was a small clash fought on August 8, 1888 between the troops of Italy and Abyssinian irregulars towards the end of the Italo-Ethiopian War of 1887-1889. The battle resulted in the destruction of Italian attachment that was deployed to Saganeiti. In the Italian army, the skirmish was considered a "massacre" - while most irregular Italian-aligned forces (referred to as basci-buzuk) fled, all Italian officers had been slain. The defeat at Saganeit prompted Italian command to reform their army organization - in October 1888, the first group of askari was formed to replace the basci-buzuk.  After Italian forces took Saganeit later in 1888, the local Coptic church in Saganeit was destroyed and a new Catholic one was erected in its place. The battle had a profound impact of Italian strategy in Ethiopia and its approach towards indigenous troops. In early 1888, indigenous troops were hailed by Italian command as fighters that could "run some tens of kilometers without water, food or rest, that they could subsist on only a ‘fistful’ of wheat per day, and that they were responsible for their own provisioning". Italy would steadily increase its dependence on irregular native troops, and send Italian forces back to Europe. The defeat at Segheneyti forced Italy to reconsider its strategy. Italian public initially blamed the defeat on indigenous fighters themselves, with Italian newspapers condemning indigenous troops as disloyal and treacherous. However, Italian commanders argued that "indigenous troops sent to Saganeiti had shown a willingness to fight so long as their Italian officers were still alive". From that point, native troops were reformed to be more organized and better equipped, and went through Italian led training; lastly, more Italian officers were assigned to them.

Price: $450.00

APH 084

Large portrait photo of an Italian soldier in Asmara, Eritrea, 1913. His signature is present and the photo is dated September 6, 1913. Rare. M

Price: $100.00

APH 074APH 074

Photo album of two Italian soldiers in a machine gun unit in Abyssinia. Album begins in Italy before leaving for Abyssinia. Photos with loved ones and friends. Military photos in Africa. 54 photos in total, none of which are described. M

Price: $300.00

APH 073APH 073

Photo collection taken by an Italian soldier in Abyssinia.. All photos are described on back and most are dated, from 1938 to 1939. Images inside Addis Ababa, Italians with animals, R&R, Italian bridge, reference to the Negus on the back of one of the photos. One interesting photo of an Italian in Asmara dated February 18, 1941, just one month before the Italians lost the city to the British. 15 photos in total. M

Price: $120.00

APH 061APH 061

Album of 29 photos, pasted down, by an Italian military doctor in Abyssinia during the invasion. The album relates to the establishment of a large military hospital deep in the interior. There is a ribbon cutting ceremony by a battalion commander, Italian doctors tending to ascaris wounded, ammunition dumps, building fortifications, road/bridge construction, many pictures of Mussolini posted around camps, soldiers posing with donkey mascot, etc. No descriptions. This is the only album I have ever come across on this subject. 

Price: $400.00