'South Persia'. Photographer: Lt. A. A. Crookshank (Curzon Collection)

Content

Genre/Subject Matter:

The album contains landscape and architectural views of South Persia and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. coastline. The photos are presented initially by location (Muscat, Jask, Bandar Abbás, Niríz, Yezd, Isfahan to Shiráz Road, Pasargadae, Naksh-i-Rustam, Naksh-i-Rajab, Persepolis, Shiráz, Feragha, Chinár Rahdár, Shápur, Shiráz-Bushire Road, Bushire), thereafter by subject (Persian Flora, Persian Dwellings, Persian Roads, Persian Scenery).

Elements:

1 [Muscat] Town and Bay. 31st Oct 1900

2 [Muscat] The Town looking North. 31 Oct 1900

3 [Muscat] British Consulate. 31 Oct 1900

4 [Muscat] Old Portuguese Fort (1550). 31 Oct 1900

5 [Muscat] Sultan's Palace. 31 Oct 1900

6 [Muscat] Sidap. Village. 31 Oct 1900

7 [Jask] Telegraph Buildings. 1 Nov 1900

8 [Jask] Fort and Beach. 1 Nov 1900

9 [Bandar Abbás] Sea front looking West. 11 Nov 1900

10 [Bandar Abbás] The Town looking West. 11 Nov 1900

11 [Bandar Abbás] Beach and island of Hormuz. 11 Nov 1900

12 [Bandar Abbás] British Consulate. 11 Nov 1900

13 [Niríz] Panorama of Town looking South. 30 April 1901

14 [Niríz] Town looking North. 30 April 1901

15 [Yezd] The City looking East from the Masjid-i-Juma. 10 July 1901

16 [Yezd] The City looking South from the Masjid-i-Juma. 10 July 1901

17 [Yezd] The City from the Masjid-i-Juma looking West. 10 July 1901

18 [Yezd] The City looking West from the Mínár-i-Maidán. 13 July 1901

19 [Yezd] The City looking North from the Minár-i-Maidán. 13 July 1901

20 [Yezd] The City looking South from the Minár-i-Maidán. 13 July 1901

21 [Yezd] The Masjid-i-Juma. 9 July 1901

22 [Yezd] The Masjid-i-Juma. 9 July 1901

23 [Yezd] Main Gate of Fort. 13 July 1901

24 [Yezd] The Maidán-i-Sháh. 13 July 1901

25 [Yezd] Gate of Old Fort. 13 July 1901

26 [Yezd] Mosque of Mir Chakhmakh. 13 July 1901

27 Caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). at Khána-i-Kirgam. 27 Oct 1901

28 Bridge at Khána-i-Kirgam. 27 Oct 1901

29 [Pasargadae] The Tomb of Cyrus. 30 Oct 1901

30 [Abarkuh] Memorial to Darius at Arbela 331 B.C. 10 Oct 1901

31 [Pasargadae] Ruins of Cyrus’ City. 29 Oct 1901

32 [Naksh-i-Rustam] Bas-relief Ormuzd and Ardeshir 5 Nov 1901

33 [Naksh-i-Rustam] Rock tombs of the Kings. 5 Nov 1901

34 [Naksh-i-Rustam] Building near Tombs of the Kings. 5 Nov 1901

35 [Naksh-i-Rustam] Fire Altars. 5 Nov 1901

36 [Naksh-i-Rustam] Bas relief. Equestrian Combat. 5 Nov 1901

37 [Naksh-i-Rustam] Bas relief. Equestrian Combat. 5 Nov 1901

38 [Naksh-i-Rustam] Shapur and Valerian at Edessa A.D. 260. 5 Nov 1901

39 [Naksh-i-Rustam] Varahran and his Queen A.D. 500 5 Nov 1901

40 [Naksh-i-Rustam] Varahran II and his Court. 5 Nov 1901

41 [Naksh-i-Rajab] Shapur I and his Bodyguard. 5 Nov 1901

42 [Naksh-i-Rustam] Tombs of the Kings. The East Tomb. 5 Nov 1901

43 [Persepolis] Palace of Darius. 6 Nov 1901

44 [Persepolis] Palace of Darius. Interior. 6 Nov 1901

45 [Persepolis] Panorama of the Platform looking South and West. 6 Nov 1901

46 [Persepolis] Grand Entrance. Porch of Xerxes. 6 Nov 1901

47 [Persepolis] Pillars in Hall of Xerxes. 6 Nov 1901

48 [Persepolis] King fighting Dragon. Hall of 100 Columns. 6 Nov 1901

49 [Persepolis] The North Tomb Artaxerxes II 6 Nov 1901.

50 [Persepolis] King on Throne and Procession Doorway. Hall of 100 Columns. 6 Nov 1901

51 [Persepolis] The King held up on Throne. Doorway in Hall of 100 Columns 6 Nov 1901

52 [Persepolis] King with Attendant. Palace of Xerxes 6 Nov 1901

53 [Persepolis] The King. Palace of Artaxerxes III. 6 Nov 1901

54 [Persepolis] Hall of Hundred Columns etc. 6 Nov 1901

55 [Persepolis] The great Staircase and Platform. 6 Nov 1901

56 [Shiráz] Tomb of Sultán Mir Shah. 15 Dec 1901

57 [Shiráz] Cemetery of Great Men. 15 Dec 1901

58 [Shiráz] Bas relief. Farhád and Shirín in the Bágh-i-Nao 15 Dec 1901

59 [Feragha] Ancient figure of animal in stone. 14 Oct 1901

60 [Shiráz] Approach to City from Tang-i-Korán. 18 Dec 1901

61 [Shiráz] The City looking West. 15 Dec 1901

62 [Shiráz] The City looking East. 15 Dec 1901

63 [Shiráz] The City looking North. 15 Dec 1901

64 [Shiráz] The Bágh-i-Takht. 16 Dec 1902 [sic for 1901]

65 [Shiráz] Cemetery of Haft Tan. 18 Dec 1901

66 [Shiráz] Cemetery of Chel Tan. 18 Dec 1901

67 [Chinár Rahdár] The Caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). and Bridge. 23 Dec 1901

68 [Shápur] Ruins of King Shápur’s City. 16 Jan 1902

69 The River near Shapur. 16 Jan 1902

70 [Shápur] Bas-relief. Omuzd and Narses. 15 Jan 1902

71 [Shápur] Bas-relief. The Captives before Shapur. 15 Jan 1902

72 [Shápur] The Investiture of Cyriadis by Shapur. 15 Jan 1902

73 [Shápur] Valerian, Cyriadis and King Shapur. 15 Jan 1902

74 [Shápur] Valerian suppliant before King Shapur. 16 Jan 1902

75 [Shápur] Statue of King Shapur in cave. 16 Jan 1902

76 [Shápur] Bas-relief. Triumph of Chosroes Naushirwán 16 Jan 1902

77 Caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). at Mian Kotal. 9 Jan 1902

78 Lake near Kazerun from Kotal-i-Dukhtar. 8 Jan 1902

79 Bridge near Daliki from upstream. 21 Jan 1902

80 Bridge near Daliki looking upstream. 21 Jan 1902

81 Telegraph Quarters. Kunár-i-Takhta. 20 Jan 1902

82 The landing place at Shif. 29 Jan 1902

83 [Bushire] The town looking South from Gray Paul's office. 23 Feb 1902

84 [Bushire] The town looking East from British Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. . 23 Feb 1902

85 [Bushire] Telegraph Buildings at Reshire. 24 Feb 1902

86 [Bushire] Panorama of British Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Sea front. 23 Feb 1902

87 The Assafoetida plant. East of Niríz. 21 April 1901

88 Walnut trees. North of Niríz. 6 May 1901

89 Almond grafted onto wild tree. N of Furg 26 March 1901

90 Oak trees in Kuh Marra. S of Shiráz. 27 Dec 1901

91 The “Archan” Tree in pink blossom. N of Furg. 25 March 1901

92 Oak trees near Kazerun. 14 Jan 1902

93 Mastich and wild pistachio trees. S of Shiráz 31 Dec 1901

94 Oak Trees in Kuh Marra. South of Shiráz. 27 Dec 1901

95 Cypress Tree in mountains. East of Niríz. 27 April 1901

96 Tents of matting of Kermán tribes in Rudbár. 30 Nov 1900

97 Tents of black goats hair. Kermán tribes in Rudbár. 2 Dec 1900

98 Cave dwellers. E of Furg. 7 Feb 1901

99 A Village East of Yezd. 2 July 1901

100 The Chieftain’s Cave. Cavedwellers. E of Furg. 2 Feb 1901

101 The Chieftain’s Tent. Nomad tribes near Bandar Abbás. 21 Feb 1901

102 A country house and garden. North of Niríz. 2 May 1901

103 Bágh-i-Nawwáb. A Garden in the suburbs of Yezd. 4 Sept 1901

104 Tank for rainwater. N of Bandar Abbás 21 Feb 1901

105 The Prince’s Palace and Govt. House at Yezd. 13 July 1901

106 Bágh-i-Eram. A Garden in the suburbs of Shiráz 13 Dec 1901

107 The Tang-i-Zágh Defile N of Bandar Abbás. 11 March 1901

108 A pass West of Fasa. 28 Nov 1901.

109 Shiráz-Bushire. The “Kotal-i-Dukhtar” 8 Jan 1902

110 Shiráz-Bushire. The “Kotal-i-Kumárij” 20 Jan 1902

111 Shiráz-Bushire. The “Kotal-i-Mahallu” 21 Jan 1902

112 Shiráz-Bushire. The “Pul-i-Gina” Viaduct near Kazerun. 8 Jan 1902

113 The Bushire-Lingah Road near Riz. 28 March 1902

114 The Well with three pulleys for irrigating crops near Lingah. 14 April 1902.

115 The West end of Salt Lake near Niríz looking North. 20 Nov 1901

116 The West End of Salt Lake near Niríz looking N.W. from hills above. 21 Nov 1901

117 The Salt Desert of Sirján in Kermán. 15 April 1902

118 The Lake near Kázerún looking North 4 Jan 1902

Inscriptions:

Inner cover, in pencil: ‘Copy negs done Stannard 25-9-79’

Title page, in ink: 'Presented to / H.E. Lord Curzon of Kedleston etc etc / Viceroy of India / by / Lieut. Arthur A. Crookshank / Royal Engineers / June 1903'

Spine, gold emboss: ‘Photos’ ‘South Persia’

Throughout the album captions and location or subject categories are hand-lettered in black ink.

Extent and format

119 photographs bound into an album

It is grouped into

'[Muscat] Town and Bay. 31st Oct 1900'. Photographer: Arthur Alexander Crookshank

1 image

Ref: Photo 430/8/1

'[Muscat] The Town looking North. 31. Oct 1900'. Photographer: Arthur Alexander Crookshank

1 image

Ref: Photo 430/8/2

'[Muscat] British Consulate. 31. Oct 1900'. Photographer: Arthur Alexander Crookshank

1 image

Ref: Photo 430/8/3

'[Muscat] Old Portuguese Fort (1550). 31. Oct 1900'. Photographer: Arthur Alexander Crookshank

1 image

Ref: Photo 430/8/4

'[Muscat] Sultan's Palace. 31. Oct 1900'. Photographer: Arthur Alexander Crookshank

1 image

Ref: Photo 430/8/5

'[Muscat] Sidap. Village. 31. Oct 1900'. Photographer: Arthur Alexander Crookshank

1 image

Ref: Photo 430/8/6

'The landing place at Shif. 29. Jan. 1902'. Photographer: Arthur Alexander Crookshank

1 image

Ref: Photo 430/8/82

'[Bushire] The Town looking South from Gray. Paul's Office. 23. Feb. 1902'. Photographer: Arthur Alexander Crookshank

1 image

Ref: Photo 430/8/83

'The Town looking East from British Residency. 23. Feb. 1902'. Photographer: Arthur Alexander Crookshank

1 image

Ref: Photo 430/8/84

'Telegraph Buildings at Reshire. 24. Feb. 1902'. Photographer: Arthur Alexander Crookshank

1 image

Ref: Photo 430/8/85

'Panorama of British Residency and Sea front. 23. Feb. 1902'. Photographer: Arthur Alexander Crookshank

1 image

Ref: Photo 430/8/86

Physical characteristics

Dimensions:

Album: 250 x 305 x 40 mm [portrait]

Format:

Maroon and red three quarter-leather album containing one hundred and eighteen prints hand-cut and pasted onto card pages.

Materials:

Card, black ink, gelatin silver The principal photographic process used for black and white photography from the 1870s. prints.

Condition:

While the binding is still sturdy for the most part – aside from extensive scuffing and losses at all edges, particularly upper spine – the individual card pages are extensively foxed and discoloured throughout. The lower right corner of page 13–14 has broken off entirely.

Many of the individual images are faded and some show signs of surface losses.

Foliation:

The images have been numbered 1–118 alongside each image in pencil and paginated 1–47 in pencil in the upper right corner. Some additional image sequencing in pencil in the first twenty nine pages of the album (e.g. a–d on each page) has been crossed out.

Process:

Gelatin silver The principal photographic process used for black and white photography from the 1870s. prints

Binding:

The album is bound in maroon three-quarter-leather format, which is heavily scuffed along the spine, particularly at the upper spine.

This binding likely dates to its presentation to Lord Curzon and indicates the title of the album with gilt stamp ‘ Photos’ ‘South Persia’. The binding also features linen joints and hand-stitching.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Photograph

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

Photo 430/8

History of this record

Date(s)

31 Oct 1900-15 Apr 1902 (CE, Gregorian)

Provenance

Acquired 1976.

Subjects

Landscape photography

Places

IsfahanPersepolisBandar AbbasMuscatShirazBushireAl-HasaKuk-I-MundRas TannuraRa's TannūrahZellaqAz ZallāqAl Jufayr

People & organisations

1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston George Nathaniel CurzonArthur Alexander Crookshank

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Cite this record in your research

'South Persia'. Photographer: Lt. A. A. Crookshank (Curzon Collection), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Photo 430/8, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100008391121.0x000001> [accessed 1 April 2025]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100008391121.0x000001

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