Robert Elsie, a writer, translator, interpreter, and specialist in Albanian studies, has published on his Early Photography in Albania website a few photos of Northern Albania taken from 1902- 1908 by Austrian Erich Liebert. The Photo Collection, which was taken by Liebert’s book Aus dem nordalbanischen Hochgebirge (From the Northern Albanian Highlands), Sarajevo 1909, show Liebert’s numerous tours in Northern Albania from 1903-1904.
Born in 1873, Liebert was a physician and explorer. His first visit in Albania dates back in September 1902 when he went on to explore the northern Albanian mountains. Accompanied by Albanian Luigj Jakovic, Liebert visited various regions such as Dushmani, Merturi, Gashi, Krasniqi, etc., and passed through Valbona River, Theth, Abat, Nika in 1904.
According to Elsie, “in this volume, he tells us that he was also in Albania in 1905, 1907 and 1908 but we have no published account or photos of these journeys. In 1910, Liebert published an article on blood feuding and hospitality among the Albanian highlanders. During the Balkan Wars (1912-1913) and probably during the First World War, Dr Erich Liebert worked for the Red Cross in Turkey, in particular during the Dardanelles Campaign.”
Author of various books and countless articles, Elsie’s scholar interests over the last thirty years have been focused on various aspects of Albanian culture, literature, and history. “Albania, and its culture and history, are to be discovered and appreciated not only through texts, but also through photography. For this reason we have chosen here to offer a few rare glimpses into the past of the Albanian people in collections of early photographs,” according to Elsie.
