Photo Collections

PTO186

Photo collection from a blackshirt soldier fighting on the Northern Front. Rare photo of soldier at Lake Ashenge just 1 day after the Emperor had passed there and witnessed thousands of his dead soldiers ringing the lake that the Italians had poisoned. Reconnaissance patrol at Dolo on February 2, posing at Amba Alagi on February 26, photos with ascaris May 5-10, surrendered Abyssinians, rare photo of General Santini, a number of photos from Buia. A couple photos before and after this period. 28 photos, many with descriptions and dates. M

Price: $220.00

Note: On 3 April 1936, thousands of soldiers of the Ethiopian Empire were killed with poison gas all around Lake Ashenge. The soldiers were withdrawing from the Battle of Maychew as the Italians sprayed and bombed the area around the lake with mustard gas to deadly effect. On 4 April, Emperor Haile Selassie I looked with despair upon the horrific sight of the dead bodies of his army ringing the poisoned lake

PTO184PTO184

Photo collection from a black shirt artillery officer (probably with the ‘February 1st’ Division). Interesting photo of evening celebration of senior officers of the February 1st Division with all the fine wines and food from Italy. In camp at Adi Caiech during the invasion, local school at Mai Buie, on the Tacaze River, strange photo of an artillery depot, posing at Enda Jesus, Nefasit, Addi Mede Bai, Mai Magu Emru, Adi Abruna and Toconda. Lumber depot at Asti, camp games, dressing up in Ascari tarbouche and sash, more. 32 photos, most contain descriptions on back. M

Price: $285.00

PTO183PTO183

Photo collection from and Italian officer named Masia Michele. He is in Hausien and Adigrat at the peak of the invasion between October 20, 1935 and February, 1936. After the war he is in Asmara and Adi Casci in Eritrea. Interesting photo of a group of soldiers holding up a copy of Illustrazione del Popollo one month into the invasion, soldier with a monkey on his head following a local woman into her hut, logistics depot at Enda Chercos. Most photos described and dated. 12 photos. M

Price: $120.00

PTO182PTO182

Two photos of Italians in post-war Eritrea: 1945 and 1949. Described on reverse. B

Price: $30.00

PTO181

Small group of 5 photos from a soldier named Baci Jaspare from June-September, 1937. Most are from Mai Edaga, Eritrea, one is from Dire Daua. Photos of mixing with locals mainly. All described on reverse. M

Price: $65.00

PTO175PTO175

Group of 26 small photos from an Italian officer. He leaves Italy aboard the ‘Lombardia’ in October 1935, reaching Decemare, Eritrea on November 1. Photos of camp life, a ‘curious’ amba (mountain) at the front of the 2nd Division in December. Local market and engineers at work at Adigorat in January. Well described. M

Price: $100.00

PTO174PTO174

Six photographs from Eritrea in the 1920’s. All described and dated. M

Price: $80.00

PTO173

Rare photo of Major General Giovanni Passerone, commander of the 252nd Blackshirt ‘Aiciaiata’ Battalion of the 3rd Blackshirt (April 21st) Division, part of 2nd Corp under General Merevigna. Passerone became a POW in 1942. Described on back. M

Price: $35.00

PTO170PTO170

Early 20th century photo collection from Eritrea. Places shown are Massawa, Cheren, Asmara and Agordat. Nice photos of muslims under banner, early Eritrean troops, muslims praying, local women and children, drawing water, early mining operation. 27 photos in all. Most described on back. M

Price: $600.00

PTO168PTO168

Photo collection from a soldier with an artillery unit (probably the 3rd Artillery Battalion) attached to the 3rd Blackshirt Division (‘April 21st’) in Ethiopia in 1936. Shown are artillery range school in the field, rare photo of soldiers arming artillery shells, displaying a small artillery piece, soldiers eating rations, rare photo of a field telephone unit attached to the 2nd Battery in July. Rare photo of the arrival of General Archimede Mischi (Deputy Commander of the 3rd CCNN ‘April 21st’ Division) in September. Another rare photo of General Mischi addressing a group of Ethiopians through an interpreter. Discusses the fighting around Zuquala in November/December 1936, mortorized troop column on November 15, soldiers counting 46 dead after the battle of Urutoi(sp?) on November 18, wounded Ethiopians being transported by truck and surrounded by Galla tribesmen with spears, guarding an important prisoner on November 24, men of the April 21st Division singing, inspection of the April 21st Division, rare photo of Italian fort at Zuquala in December. Group photos given the names of each soldier, funeral for fallen soldiers in December. Building an observation tower at Bole with Eritrean troops wearing Italian headgear in January 1937, Italian officers with Eritrean troops posing on top of a redoubt in January. 32 photos in all, each described and most dated. An important collection showing the 3rd Blackshirt Division in its efforts to track down insurgents months after the fall of Addis Abeba. M

Note:Judging from the handwriting, a number of the photos in November are taken at Maji, deep in the south-west. It was one of the areas of final resistance to the Italians and the hunting down of the remaining leaders. This collection appears to reflect that campaign.

Price: $600.00