Help with old Souvenir Book on Versailles

[Dave Orndorf]

I am cleaning out some books today and found a book of souvenir photographs of scenes around Paris. I bought the thing a number of years ago, and am finally getting to look closer at it. It has a bunch of problems such as binding falling off, some soot damage from somewhere in its long life. My question is can anyone date this thing? Or point me to a website that might have some more info on it? I am sure they sold a million of these, the one I have are actual photographs others I have seen are lithographic reproductions. I love some of the images, one even has the front of the camera showing in the tower photograph. I don't think this book has any tremendous value, but before I start ripping it apart to scan some of the images I want to make sure it has little value.
Thank you for any help you might be able to give.
Dave

[Charles Carstensen]

You do not say where you live, however, if near a big city would there be a book store you could take it to for starters? I do understand this is very elementary, but . . .

[Mark Sampson]

Don't rip the book apart. You need to find a book conservator, or if the prints are indeed photogrpahs, a photo conservator. I would find one by contacting your local museum and asking them who takes care of their collections... I'm sure they'd be willing to help.

[jnanian]

I am cleaning out some books today and found a book of souvenir photographs of scenes around Paris. I bought the thing a number of years ago, and am finally getting to look closer at it. It has a bunch of problems such as binding falling off, some soot damage from somewhere in its long life. My question is can anyone date this thing? Or point me to a website that might have some more info on it? I am sure they sold a million of these, the one I have are actual photographs others I have seen are lithographic reproductions. I love some of the images, one even has the front of the camera showing in the tower photograph. I don't think this book has any tremendous value, but before I start ripping it apart to scan some of the images I want to make sure it has little value.
Thank you for any help you might be able to give.
Dave

a library will have a special collections and book repair division.
they will be able to help you fix the binding.
if you are in the states, you might also contact http://www.nedcc.org/home.php
the northeast document conservation center, they might be able to point you in
the right direction as well.

john

[Dave Orndorf]

Thanks for the input everyone, I was hoping someone in this forum might be a collector of this type of thing. I have talked to one art conservator, and was given an unbelieveable quote on the cost of restoration, but no hard information on the book.
I had also called the nearest Museum and left a message did not get a call back.
Thanks for your help.
Dave

[cowanw]

The sheen on the photographs look like they might be albumin photos, perhaps pre 20th century.
Regards
Bill

[tim atherton]

Thanks for the input everyone, I was hoping someone in this forum might be a collector of this type of thing. I have talked to one art conservator, and was given an unbelieveable quote on the cost of restoration, but no hard information on the book.
I had also called the nearest Museum and left a message did not get a call back.
Thanks for your help.
Dave

real conservation work is very slow, painstaking and... expensive

[Dave Orndorf]

Tim, that is the problem and or solution. I need to find out if this has any worth, if it does (which I am doubtful) then a off to the conservator it goes, but if something that pops up on Ebay every other week and nabs $58.00 on a good day, then I am ok with scanning some of the prints I like and enjoying them that way.
Bill - I think they are albumen, thanks for your input.

Thanks again,
Dave