An Anglo engineer in Saudi Arabia

[Saudi Arabia]. Photograph album of a British or American family in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia, 1955.

Small oblong folio album. 21 original silver-gelatin photographs. Various formats, most captioned on the mount. Contemporary blue cloth with wrap-around clasp, ms. title "Saudi Arabia 1955" to spine in white ink.

 3,500.00

An interesting album of photographs taken by a British or American engineer working on a construction project in Saudi Arabia. Though the project and specific location are not named, it was probably based somewhere in the Eastern Province on the Gulf coast. It was there that Saudi Arabian oil was first discovered and, as a result, the province became the focus of the growing oil industry. Thus is it quite likely the photographer's project was part of the infrastructure supporting the industry's rapid expansion.

The images show the building site, the completed buildings, the surrounding coastal area, a traditional house, old ceramic vessels and local people. Several photographs capture the photographer's family at work and play, exploring the beaches, going shopping ("Sue wasn't happy") and riding donkeys and camels.

A few photos stained at corners.