The Documentation of a 19th Century Albumen Print of Mount Arafat by the Egyptian Photographer Muhammad Sadiq Bey

Muhammad Sadiq Bey, an Egyptian army engineer and surveyor and the treasurer of the Egyptian Hajj caravan, was the first one to photographically document Mecca, Madina, and the Hajj. This paper presents the documentation of a 19th-century albumen print of Mount Arafat captured by Sadiq Bey. Albumen prints are extremely unstable compared to other silver-based photographs. The photograph is fixed to a poor-quality secondary support and is preserved in a wood frame. Several examination and analysis techniques were employed for condition evaluation, including visual inspection, stereomicroscopy, ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) imaging, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (SEM-EDS), pH value measurement, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and microbiological studies. Visual and microscopic inspection revealed the yellowing and flaking of the albumen binder layer, the fading and discoloration of the image silver, and the yellowing and embrittlement of the secondary support. The photograph suffered from microbiological attack and insect attack (i.e., Anthrenus pimpinellae larva). IR imaging showed that the image has been retouched. SEM examination revealed the presence of a network of micro-cracks and fungal spores. EDS analysis showed the presence of silver sulfide, which is responsible for image discoloration. The average pH value of the secondary support is 4.9. FTIR revealed the severe degradation of the albumen binder on the left side of the image compared to the right side, and it also showed that the secondary support suffers from oxidation as indicated by the formation of carbonyl groups. Aspergillus niger and Emericella nidulans were isolated from the examined albumen print; nevertheless, only A. niger seemed to be the causative agent of biodeterioration. A. niger produces organic acid that is partially responsible for the decreased pH value of the photograph and secondary support.