4102 - Africa

Africa Photographer unknown. Épreuves de liaisons commerciales transsahariennes. 1932. 168 gelatin silver prints, mounted to gray-brown album pages with orange borders. Images between 6,5 x 10,7 and 14,2 x 24 cm (album pages 21 x 27,5 cm). Many captioned and dated in French in black ink on the mounts. Bound in original album, with printed title, itinerary, vehicle specifications and list of participants (overall size 21,5 x 29,5 x 2 cm). An extensive documentaion of Saurer's participation in the 1932 trans-Saharan trials organized by the French colonial administration in Algeria to test diesel-powered commercial transport. Following preparations in Suresnes, the album traces the route from Algiers via Ghardaia, Timimoun, Adrar and Reggan to Gao. Views of loading, refuelling, repairs, desert camps and vehicles crossing difficult terrain are interspersed with crews, local inhabitants, mounted troops and river scenes at Gao, documenting both the expedition's logistical challenges and the communities encountered en route. – Boards with light discoloration and irregular staining, edges slightly rubbed; prints with light scuff marks, slight fading and silver mirroring, otherwise all in very good condition.