Author: [PHOTOGRAPHY - HOLY CARPET]. RAU, William Herman and Roddo York YOUNG (photographers).
Title: [Holy carpet].[Early 20th century]. Various sizes. With two stereographic cards and one photographic print. Mounted on cardboard.
Description: [3] photographs.Collection of three early twentieth century photographs, taken by American photographers, showing the holy carpet and a street scene in Yemen. The holy carpet was woven every year by the best Egyptian craftsmen. It was then placed into the mahmal, a special reliquary, and carried to Mecca, where it would cover the Kaaba during hajj. The present stereographs show the arrival of the carpet in Cairo and Damascus. The photograph of Yemen is of a later date.The stereograph from Damascus was taken by William Herman Rau (1855-1920), a photographer from Pennsylvania. He became the photographer for the United States government expedition and traveled around the world to observe the transit of Venus. In 1881, he briefly worked in Egypt, Palestine and Syria. The image of the holy carpet was likely taken during this time, although the present stereographic print is of a later date. The photograph of Cairo was taken by Roddo York Young (1871-1955), an American photographer who worked around the world.Both stereographs have printed text on the back explaining the image. The stereographic cards have been warped, but the images themselves are in good condition.

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