William de Wiveleslie Abney: Thebes and its Five Greater Temples
 
Images selected by
Alan Griffiths
 
These photographs are taken from William de Wiveleslie Abney Thebes and its five greater temples, (London: Sampson, Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, 1876) in the collection of the University of Heidelberg Library.
 
William de Wiveleslie Abney was in Egypt in 1874 to photograph the Transit of Venus and whilst awaiting that event took photographs of the archaeological monuments of Thebes in Egypt. As he was on an official scientific expedition he was well equipped and accompanied by three members of the Royal Engineers of the British Army - and their names are given as Corporals Laffeaty, Milne, and Farr. There is a discrepancy in the names as in "Paper IX. The Recent Transit of Venus" by Captain Abney, R.E. p.73 in Papers on Subjects connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers, New Series XXIII, 1876 they are given as Sapper Laffeaty, 2nd Corpl. Mitre and Sapper W. Farr. The quality of these tipped-in albumen plates is exceptional and reflects well on the training of the team.