Augusto Mendes Simões de Castro, Panorama photographico de Portugal (Coimbra [Portugal]: Typographia do Paiz, 1871-1874). 4 v. in 2. 48 gelatin silver prints. Graphic Arts Collection GAX 2014- in process. Purchased with the support of the Maxwell Fund.

The introduction to this book points out that the arts and culture of Portugal are not well-known in other countries and so, these volumes are meant to promote the country’s artistic treasures. Forty-eight parts were issued over four years, each containing one original albumen photograph by the Portuguese artist Carlos Relvas (1838-1894). The scenes included city views; principal monuments, churches, chateaus, and castles; landscapes; and a few portraits. The first two books include descriptions by various authors, while the images in the last two have no identification.

Harvard University and the University of California Berkeley are the only other American institutions with a copy of these volumes. Here are a few images.