Three photographic construction albums of the landing quay in the Bordeaux estuary at Verdon-sur-Mer

1930 - 1933. Commercial albums.. Fine.. Three oblong folio commercial albums. 332 identified (captions in French) black and white photographs (125 x 175 mm) with an additional 11 fold-out photographic panoramas.

A detailed photographic record of the engineering construction of the Mole d'Escale du Verdon (the albums omit the art-deco finished appointments of passenger lounges). This multi-year harbor project was planned before WWI but only begun once German war reparations began to be paid to France. The reparations financed this project. The pier was designed as a long gradual arch out into the Gironde River and incorporated the most up-to-date technology e.g., hydraulic dampers for docking ships. In conjunction with this the SNCF undertook the extension and electrification of rail connections (not depicted). The photographs offer an elaborate and meticulous record of engineering work and appear to have benefited from unlimited access to the site. This would indicate official sanction but there is no record of this in the albums. Great care was taken to identify and date each of the photographs.