Amchit 1860 -1960

Description

LebanonPostcards presents an exclusive valuable book: Bassam Lahoud – Amchit 1860 -1960 – 2 volumes – The Lebanese House of Photography, 850 pages, and 3000 photos, Hard Cover book 29x29cm – 6.5 kgs

Without the past, the present is less real.
Without the then, the now is void of truth.
Without photos, all that was is but a story on the lips of those who were then.

My passion for photo collection became a calling with the opening of the first box in my father’s archives, an entrancing curiosity that revealed the authentic history of Amchit, my beloved hometown.

Embracing this treasure trove of photo negatives and prints, I have embarked since on a journey of my father’s boxes into the hidden treasures of other Amchiti families, connecting the seas and oceans of cultural heritage.

12 years in the making, more than 3000 photos printed, 10 decades of lives lived, this collection is a window into the reminiscent past of Amchit, a bridge between its past and present.

Selecting photos that tell untold stories and speak unspoken truths, I endeavored to include as many pictures as I could. Some are larger than others because of the age of the photo, or the importance of the background that shows the landscape and the architecture of the town, while others are smaller because of their similarity or their low resolution.
For the sake of authenticity, the photos are shown in exactly the state they were found or framed, depicting Amchit in moments of time, moments rich with genuineness, empty of fallacies, and honest to the core.

As many of those in the photos are unknown, the only names mentioned herein are those that appear on the photos themselves. To that end, there are faces yet to be identified, and it is my hope that you, as an owner of this collection, contribute to solidifying our past through your own recognition of the faces gracing these pages. I like to think of it as a collective responsibility, framed by a need to personalize a history that unites us as children of this great town. By doing so, together we can add a dimension to this collection which is beyond any one individual.

Capturing architecture that is no more, a landscape that once was, faces that have since departed, memories that will last forever, this collection is 100 years of Amchit. I have faith these photos will give the younger generation an opportunity to experience the fashion and trends and live the ceremonies and traditions that are dwindling – unfortunately – and serve as a constant reminder of a heritage that has indeed contributed to who they are today and the world they live in.

Bassam Lahoud

LebanonPostcard will be responsible for sending the book you order, through fast courier with a tracking number, guaranteeing reception of the package. The item may take between two and five days to arrive, according to the country it is sent to.