Laurent, Juan (French, ). SPAIN. Folio (14 x 18 inches), morocco, gilt title, 50 leaves with 130 albumen photos on both sides depicting Spanish buildings and landscapes, artwork, armor, and other objects, all edges gilt. Not dated but circa 1870s-1880s. Ex collection Samuel Mather, with his bookplate. The photos, mostly about 13 1/2 x 9 7/8 inches, some about 5 1.2 x 7 1/4 inches, all in excellent conditionthe; binding with an expertly rebacked spine in well-matched morocco, and stabilization of the edges by Green Dragon Bindery.Jean Laurent, (French, 1816-1886) was a French photographer who worked mostly in Spain. He photographed architecture and landscape scenes throughout Spian and sold the images separately, so that it is likely that our album was created for the buyer from images he had chosen. Laurent was the official photographer to the Queen of Spain and to the Prado Museum.Samuel Mather (American 1851-1931) was an Industrialist and philanthropist who was descended from Cotton Mather and Increase Mather, and who became the wealthiest man in Cleveland Ohio.
