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Premium Carrère et Laborie

Original photographic album of the Croisière Noire - Present…
See original version (French)

Estimate €3,000 - €4,000
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Description
Original photographic album of the Croisière Noire - Presentation copy intended for Benito Mussolini - CROISIERE NOIRE - De la Méditerranée à Madagascar à travers le Contient Noir. 28 October 1924 - 26 June 1925. Citroën expedition Central Africa. 2nd Haardt-Audouin Dubreuil mission. A PRESTIGIOUS AND UNIQUE HISTORICAL OBJECT OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE. One volume in-4 contemporary brown morocco, smooth spine decorated (a little faded), important decoration on the 1st plate formed by sets of fillets and gilt and cold roulettes, number M in an oval medallion with the repeated motto "Fert" (order?) surmounted by a stylized fascist insignia, inside roulette, red moire lining and endpapers (binding signed Zoppo). small rubbing and spotting not serious, a few tabs detached. undated. Circa 1925-1930, the period immediately following the Croisière Noire and corresponding to the official presentations of the Citroën mission. Unique work, entirely mounted on tabs, written for BENITO MUSSOLINI. All the texts are written in red ink. The photographs are prints taken by Geroges Specht, the expedition photographer, and made by André Taponier, probably in his Paris studio. The book consists of a large handwritten map, watercoloured and folded in 4 (torn but not missing), followed by a handwritten title page, at the bottom of which are the autograph signatures of André Citroën, Haardt and Audouin Dubreuil, accompanied by this incredible letter, in Italian, from André Citroën: "A S.E. il Cav. Benito Mussolini in signo di devota ammirazione". This is followed by 60 photographs mounted on the album pages in a gold frame and captioned in red ink, showing various moments and people encountered during the expedition. There are some fine landscape and ethnographic photographs, including an astonishing scene of a "Banda funeral"; photos of members of the expedition, including one of Iacovleff painting a giraffe; Audouin Dubreuil, Haardt and Bellembourg in front of their tent; the Duchess of Aosta with the Duke of Apulia; hunting scenes; etc....The photographs document the major stages of the trans-Saharan and African expedition led by André Citroën, and provide a direct visual record of one of the most ambitious industrial and scientific exploration ventures of the early 20th century. A unique presentation album produced by André Citroën for a foreign head of state, with original period prints, presented to a leading political figure whose name will forever be associated with the dramatic history of twentieth-century Europe, preserved in a prestige binding produced for the Duce by Aldo Zoppo, the great Florentine bookbinder, in fine condition despite a few minor defects. This album is an exceptional testimony to the links between the French car industry (Citroën), intercontinental trans-Saharan expeditions and European politics between the wars. We have not found any references to books or albums that come even remotely close.
See original version (French)
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About the sale Ancient and modern books and manuscripts
Auction location
Auction time 06/26/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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