Content
Genre/Subject Matter

This image shows the city of Mecca from an elevated position due east of the Masjid al-Haram, or Grand Mosque. Parts of the city due north of the Masjid al-Haram are visible in the middleground.

A large two-storey, fortified building is situated immediately below the horizon on the foothills of the northern ridge, to the right of the image. The northernmost part of the Masjid al-Haram is visible just below the central point on the left edge of the image.

Derelict or semi-derelict structures make up the lower left foreground while a long ridge is visible in the background.

This is the third of four photographs taken from the same vantage point, which form a panoramic view over the city of Mecca. The first, second and fourth are X463/2, X463/3 and X463/5 respectively.

The negative has had hand-work applied, creating a drawing-like quality along the left-hand edge.

Inscriptions

Above image, on the right, in ink: ‘IV’

Lower centre and upper centre: illegible, partially erased Arabic script

Extent and format
1 collotype print
Physical characteristics
Dimensions:

188 x 245 mm

Format:

Collotype print, pasted into volume

Condition:

The print is in good condition with minor surface dirt and light abrasions, though no surface losses in the lower right of centre.

Foliation:

‘IV’

Process:

Collotype

Written in
Arabic in Arabic scriptView

Content
Genre/Subject Matter

This image shows the city of Mecca from an elevated position due east of the Masjid al-Haram, or Grand Mosque. Parts of the city due north of the Masjid al-Haram are visible in the middleground.

A large two-storey, fortified building is situated immediately below the horizon on the foothills of the northern ridge, to the far left of the image: this is the same building noted in X463/4.

A sloping bank of scree make up the lower right foreground and middleground, while in the distant background a chain of hills is visible.

This is the fourth of four photographs taken from the same vantage point, which form a panoramic view over the city of Mecca. The first, second and third are X463/2, X463/3 and X463/4 respectively.

The negative has had hand-work applied, creating a drawing-like quality in places.

Inscriptions

Above image, on the right, in ink: ‘V’

Lower centre and upper centre: illegible, partially erased Arabic script

Extent and format
1 collotype print
Physical characteristics
Dimensions:

189 x 243 mm

Format:

Collotype print, pasted into volume

Condition:

The print is in good condition with minor surface dirt and light abrasions, though no surface losses in the lower right of centre.

Foliation:

‘V’

Process:

Collotype

Written in
Arabic in Arabic script

مطبعة

Content
Genre/Subject Matter

This street-view shows the front entrance of a pale-coloured building in Mecca described as the Printers. The title suggests that it had been ‘built in recent years’. The style of the building is clearly Ottoman and is similar to the Hamidiyya, which was built close by during the reign of Sultan Abdulhamid II (1876–1909).

The pale-coloured building at left, of which only the corner can be seen is almost certainly the Hamidiyya, as the two buildings were located adjacent to one another, as can clearly be seen in X463/2.

Notable features include a plaque above the door featuring Arabic script, a decorative lamp on the right hand corner of the building and a series of rainwater spouts to compensate for what may be a flat roof.

In front of the build two benches, made of naturally bent wood as well as another structure are unoccupied, but nearer to the camera several men sit or stand near a series of benches in front to of a building on the right, some beneath an awning, which may point to the presence of a café or some other informal meeting place.

To the right of these men, a group of four boys stand and look towards the camera. A further awning, out of focus due to its proximity to the camera, is evident in the upper right corner of the image.

In the left foreground three figures in motion are captured. Though two of their faces have been roughly re-inscribed into the negative, adding to the ghost-like quality of the figures, it is clear the one furthest from the camera is a woman wearing a headscarf while the figure closest to the camera is a man wearing a turban.

Behind the two-storey Printers one taller building in a style more common in Mekka can clearly be seen, as well as a large two-storey rawashin .

Aside from merely the faces of the figures, the negative has had hand-work applied, creating a drawing-like quality in places.

Inscriptions

Above image, on the right, in ink: ‘VI’

Extent and format
1 collotype print
Physical characteristics
Dimensions:

165 x 235 mm

Format:

Collotype print, pasted into volume

Condition:

The print is in good condition with minor surface dirt and light abrasions, though no surface losses in the lower right of centre.

Foliation:

‘VI’

Process:

Collotype

Written in
Arabic in Arabic script

مخيم الحجيج بمنطقة سرف مكة أو النوارية أين يظهر مكان قبر أم المؤمنين ميمونة باللون الأبيض

Content
Genre/Subject Matter:

This landscape view shows an expansive camping ground near Mecca at a place called Sarif (Saref or ‘èn-Nawwārijjeh’, according to Snouck Hurgronje), described as ‘the grave of our lady Maymūna [the last of nine wives married to the prophet Mohammed] and camp of the Meccan pilgrims who travelled there’. Snouck Hurgonje, in the second volume of his publication Mekka describes the place, as well as the festival of ‘Sittanā Mèjmūnah’ in detail.

Much of the foreground, middle ground and background is littered with tents of varying shapes and sizes. In the foreground bushes can be seen and in the middle ground and background pilgrims are grouped together. Hills rise to the right and left of the horizon.

In the centre background a white-washed low-lying structure with a central onion-dome can be seen. This is likely the grave of Maymūna. Tradition relates that she requested to be buried at this location, where she married Mohammed.

The negative has had hand-work applied, creating a drawing-like quality in places, particularly in the background and middle ground, where the original plate may have been over-exposed.

This is the first of two photographs taken from the same vantage point, which form a panoramic view over the camp. The second is X463/8.

Inscriptions:

Above image, on the right, in ink: ‘VII’

Temporal Context:

According to Durkje van der Wal in his publication Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje: The First Western Photographer in Mecca, 1884-1885 (Amsterdam : Manfred & Hanna Heiting Fund, Rijksmuseum, 2011, pp. 43-51), the photographs in this publication that pertain to the hadj (this image included) likely date to August 1888 since this was the period of the last hadj before February 1889, the date Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje received the final consignment of images.

Extent and format
1 collotype print
Physical characteristics
Dimensions:

185 x 240 mm

Format:

Collotype print, pasted into volume

Condition:

The print is in good condition with minor surface dirt and light abrasions throughout.

Foliation:

‘VII’

Process:

Collotype

Written in
Arabic in Arabic script

Content
Genre/Subject Matter:

This landscape view shows an expansive camping ground near Mecca at a place called Sarif (Saref or ‘èn-Nawwārijjeh’, according to Snouck Hurgronje), described as ‘the grave of our lady Maymūna [the last of nine wives married to the prophet Mohammed] and camp of the Meccan pilgrims who travelled there’. Snouck Hurgonje, in the second volume of his publication Mekka describes the place, as well as the festival of ‘Sittanā Mèjmūnah’ in detail.

Much of the foreground, middle ground and background is littered with tents of varying shapes and sizes. In the foreground bushes can be seen and in the middle ground and background pilgrims are grouped together. A ridge of hills rises to the left and extends into the far distance on the right along the horizon.

Tradition relates that she requested to be buried at this location, where she married Mohammed. A group of pilgrims form a circle to the right of the centre of the image. At centre, the camera has captured the movement of pilgrims walking.

The negative has had hand-work applied, creating a drawing-like quality in places, particularly in the background.

This is the second of two photographs taken from the same vantage point, which form a panoramic view over the camp. The first is X463/7.

Inscriptions:

Above image, on the right, in ink: ‘VIII’

Temporal Context:

According to Durkje van der Wal in his publication Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje: The First Western Photographer in Mecca, 1884-1885 (Amsterdam : Manfred & Hanna Heiting Fund, Rijksmuseum, 2011, pp. 43-51), the photographs in this publication that pertain to the hadj (this image included) likely date to August 1888 since this was the period of the last hadj before February 1889, the date Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje received the final consignment of images.

Extent and format
1 collotype print
Physical characteristics
Dimensions:

188 x 244 mm

Format:

Collotype print, pasted into volume

Condition:

The print is in good condition with minor surface dirt and light abrasions throughout.

Foliation:

‘VIII’

Process:

Collotype

Written in
Arabic in Arabic script

Content
Genre/Subject Matter:

This landscape view shows an expansive camping ground near Mecca at a place called Sarif (Saref or ‘èn-Nawwārijjeh’, according to Snouck Hurgronje), described as ‘the grave of our lady Maymūna [the last of nine wives married to the prophet Mohammed] and camp of the Meccan pilgrims who travelled there’. Snouck Hurgonje, in the second volume of his publication Mekka describes the place, as well as the festival of ‘Sittanā Mèjmūnah’ in detail.

Much of the foreground and middle ground is littered with tents of varying shapes and sizes. Several low-lying hills are evident in the background, while a pathway snaking from left through the centre into the distance is described as ‘the way to Mecca’ in the title.

Tradition relates that she requested to be buried at this location, where she married Mohammed.

This photograph is described as a ‘third view’, however, it does not appear to have been taken from the same vantage point as the two previous photographs.

Inscriptions:

Above image, on the right, in ink: ‘IXa’

Temporal Context:

According to Durkje van der Wal in his publication Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje: The First Western Photographer in Mecca, 1884-1885 (Amsterdam : Manfred & Hanna Heiting Fund, Rijksmuseum, 2011, pp. 43-51), the photographs in this publication that pertain to the hadj (this image included) likely date to August 1888 since this was the period of the last hadj before February 1889, the date Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje received the final consignment of images.

Extent and format
1 collotype print
Physical characteristics
Dimensions:

103 x 145 mm

Format:

Collotype print, pasted into volume

Condition:

The print is in good condition with minor surface dirt and light abrasions throughout.

Foliation:

‘IXa’

Process:

Collotype

Written in
Arabic in Arabic script

قبر ميمونة أم المؤمنين

Content
Genre/Subject Matter:

This landscape view shows the ‘the grave of our lady Maymūna [the last of nine wives married to the prophet Mohammed] and surrounding area’ at a place near Mecca called Sarif (Saref or ‘èn-Nawwārijjeh’, according to Snouck Hurgronje). Snouck Hurgonje, in the second volume of his publication Mekka describes the place, as well as the festival of ‘Sittanā Mèjmūnah’ in detail.

The white-washed low-lying wall – broken only by an arched entryway in the middle – forms an enclosure with two white-washed buildings facing one another. This small cluster of structures is the building visible from afar in X463/7. Both buildings are flat-roofed with rounded crenellations. The building on the right features a low, white-washed onion-dome. Tradition relates that Maymūna requested to be buried at this location, where she married Mohammed.

In the left of the foreground rows of awnings cover a long stall beside which people are seated, in the shade. Tents, animals, people and bundles occupy the rest of the foreground as well as the background. Five rocky outcrops are visible in the background along the horizon.

Inscriptions:

Above image, on the right, in ink: ‘IXb’

Temporal Context:

According to Durkje van der Wal in his publication Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje: The First Western Photographer in Mecca, 1884-1885 (Amsterdam : Manfred & Hanna Heiting Fund, Rijksmuseum, 2011, pp. 43-51), the photographs in this publication that pertain to the hadj (this image included) likely date to August 1888 since this was the period of the last hadj before February 1889, the date Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje received the final consignment of images.

Extent and format
1 collotype print
Physical characteristics
Dimensions:

103 x 145 mm

Format:

Collotype print, pasted into volume

Condition:

The print is in good condition with minor surface dirt and light abrasions throughout.

Foliation:

‘IXb’

Process:

Collotype

Written in
Arabic in Arabic script

صورة الجهة الغربية لوادي منى إبان الحج على سبعة كيلومتر شرق المسجد الحرام

Content
Genre/Subject Matter:

This landscape view shows ‘the western part of valley of Muna (Mina), which extends from west to east, during the annual gathering of pilgrims [the hadj]’ from an elevated position northeast of the Masjid al-Khayf in Muna, seven kilometres east of the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. Muna (Mina) is a station of the hadj, where pilgrims camp out on the 8th, 11th, 12th (and some on the 13th) of Dhul-Hijjah , as can be seen in this image.

See Photo 174/9 for a comparative view from a similar vantage point but with a closer view of the Masjid al-Khayf, which here appears in the left of the background. The structure to the right of the iwan-like entryway, which appears damaged in the latter view, here appears intact. In the far middle ground at right two and three-storey structures can be seen. A ridge of hills rises along the horizon.

The middle ground is occupied by tents, while in the foreground there are a wide variety of beasts of burden, such as horses, camels and donkeys, standing, tethered or couched.

The negative has had hand-work applied, creating a drawing-like quality, particularly in the background, where the original plate may have been over-exposed.

Arabic script written directly into the image has been erased subtly, but is visible upon close inspection in the lower right of the image as well as in the central sky area of the image.

This is the first of two photographs taken from the same vantage point, which form a panoramic view over the valley. The second is X463/12.

Inscriptions:

Above image, on the right, in ink: ‘X’

Temporal Context:

According to Durkje van der Wal in his publication Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje: The First Western Photographer in Mecca, 1884-1885 (Amsterdam : Manfred & Hanna Heiting Fund, Rijksmuseum, 2011, pp. 43-51), the photographs in this publication that pertain to the hadj (this image included) likely date to August 1888 since this was the period of the last hadj before February 1889, the date Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje received the final consignment of images.

Extent and format
1 collotype print
Physical characteristics
Dimensions:

185 x 237 mm

Format:

Collotype print, pasted into volume

Condition:

The print is in good condition with minor surface dirt and light abrasions throughout.

Foliation:

‘X’

Process:

Collotype

Written in
Arabic in Arabic script

Content
Genre/Subject Matter:

This landscape view shows ‘the eastern part of valley of Muna (Mina)’ from an elevated position, seven kilometres east of the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. Muna (Mina) is a station of the hadj, where pilgrims camp out on the 8th, 11th, 12th (and some on the 13th) of Dhul-Hijjah , as can be seen in this image.

Right of centre, along the horizon, eight arches are set into a pale-coloured building. Otherwise no other permanent structures are evident, however, the rest of the flat plain that takes up the middle ground is dotted with many and varying tents, people, beasts of burden, such as horses, camels and donkeys. Small flocks of sheep or goats are visible in the foreground to the right of centre.

A ridge of hills rises along the horizon, with the highest point to the right of centre.

Arabic script written directly into the image has been erased subtly, but is visible upon close inspection in the lower left of the image as well as in the central sky area of the image.

This is the second of two photographs taken from the same vantage point, which form a panoramic view over the valley. The first is X463/11.

Inscriptions:

Above image, on the right, in ink: ‘XI’

Temporal Context:

According to Durkje van der Wal in his publication Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje: The First Western Photographer in Mecca, 1884-1885 (Amsterdam : Manfred & Hanna Heiting Fund, Rijksmuseum, 2011, pp. 43-51), the photographs in this publication that pertain to the hadj (this image included) likely date to August 1888 since this was the period of the last hadj before February 1889, the date Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje received the final consignment of images.

Extent and format
1 collotype print
Physical characteristics
Dimensions:

186 x 243 mm

Format:

Collotype print, pasted into volume

Condition:

The print is in good condition with minor surface dirt and light abrasions throughout.

Foliation:

‘XI’

Process:

Collotype

Written in
Arabic in Arabic script

مزدلفة

Content
Genre/Subject Matter:

This landscape view shows ‘the pilgrims’ station, Muzdal’fah, situated between Muna (Mina) and ‘Arafah’. Muzdal’fah is a station of the hadj, where pilgrims camp gather on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah , as can be seen in this image.

Here pilgrims pray, perform wuquf (standing before God) and may collect stones for the stoning of the Jamarat at Mina (Muna). Left of centre, along the horizon, a lone white-washed structure, featuring a minaret, appears to be the only building on the plain. Just below the horizon, groups of people and trains of camels to the right and left of the image are visible. A group stands with their backs to the camera in the foreground. Either mist or over-exposure has rendered the horizon blurry. In the far distance ridges of hills are visible, however.

The negative has had hand-work applied, creating a drawing-like quality, particularly in the background and around the three figures to the left in the foreground.

Arabic script written directly into the image has been erased subtly, but is visible upon close inspection in the lower centre of the image as well as in the central sky area of the image.

Inscriptions:

Above image, on the right, in ink: ‘XII’

Temporal Context:

According to Durkje van der Wal in his publication Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje: The First Western Photographer in Mecca, 1884-1885 (Amsterdam : Manfred & Hanna Heiting Fund, Rijksmuseum, 2011, pp. 43-51), the photographs in this publication that pertain to the hadj (this image included) likely date to August 1888 since this was the period of the last hadj before February 1889, the date Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje received the final consignment of images.

Extent and format
1 collotype print
Physical characteristics
Dimensions:

190 x 245 mm

Format:

Collotype print, pasted into volume

Condition:

The print is in good condition with minor surface dirt and light abrasions throughout.

Foliation:

‘XII’

Process:

Collotype

Written in
Arabic in Arabic script