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Author: Schmidt, Erich Friedrich
Title: Five large aerial photographs of Iranian archeological sites
Place Published: Iran
Publisher:
Date Published: [c.1935-1937]
Description:

5 gelatin silver photographs, ranging from 43.5x29.5 cm (17x11¾") to 95x62 cm (37½x24¼").

The widest view is labeled in pencil on the reverse, "The Mountain Basin North of Taq-I-Bustan near Kirmanshah: The Village of Pirandaz and Ascent to Tang-I-Lulan". Other shots include aerial views of Persepolis itself, with its distinctive Achaemenid Persian architectural style. Two photographs of the site from the air are from a similar angle taken on different days, and one non-aerial photograph showing a close-up of a bas-relief decoration. Schmidt's expedition photographs are numbered; these have handwritten numbers on the reverse: P-468, AE-256, AE-349, AE-717, and AE-405.

Erich Schmidt's work was inspired by his wife Mary-Helen Warden's vision of aerial photography as an archeological tool. Schmidt obtained permission from the government and took many photography flights over Iran between 1935 and 1937 in a plane purchased for the purpose by Mary-Helen, focusing especially on Persepolis and the Luristan region. The couples' work laid the foundations for aerial photography in archeology, which in turn provided the basis for the use of satellite imaging which is proving so groundbreaking in the field today.

Photographs beginning to curl at edges, pin marks in some corners, some creasing and edgewear, including two closed tears repaired with tape on verso, each with a number and letter code penciled on verso, altogether very good.