Construction of the Métropolitain [Paris], circa 1900 - Lot 630

Construction of the Métropolitain [Paris], circa 1900 Rare and remarkable personal album by an engineer in charge of the construction of the Paris metro, comprising more than two hundred and ten (210) professional [photographer unidentified] and amateur prints. The album begins with an impressive series of some forty (40) professional prints attributable to Charles MAINDRON (1861-1940), mostly citrate with a few silver and albumin prints, in large format (H. 18 cm - W. 24 cm approx.), interior and exterior views, notably of the rue de Rivoli, which would indicate that the work was being carried out on line no. 1, mostly in close-up and very animated. The album continues with a very fine portrait of our engineer posing at his desk, in front of a map of Paris, and with a large series of amateur shots, obviously taken by our man, of studies and construction work in progress. The last part of the album is a condensed account of his personal life since his studies at the Ecole Colbert in 1883-1884, detailing in particular his military life and his active participation in the Great War of 1914-1918, with a superb series of cyanotype prints. Album: H. 25 cm - W. 32.5 cm DV Prints in various formats The first and largest prints are slipped into the notches on the album pages, while the others are glued in place. Some prints with minor defects Proofs in various formats The first and large proofs are inserted into the notches of the album pages, the following ones are glued. Some proofs with minor defects