Strang, Jan (ed). Helsinki-albumi 1877 - A Collection of City Views

Preface

This book is a new edition of a series of Helsinki-lithographs drawn and lithographed by Frans Oscar Liewendal (1818–1890). The original edition was published in 1877 with the title Helsingfors Album. En samling af 38 vyer, (Helsinki Album. A Collection of 38 Views). The album was accordion-folded (9 x 12,5 cm). It was sold for Fmk 6.50 in cloth and for Fmk 5 in cardboard covers. In 1883 the album was reissued in unchanged form. The album was meant both for the inhabitants of Helsinki and foremost for tourists. They depict mainly the monumental buildings in central Helsinki and places important for tourists as buildings of the Ullanlinna bathing establishment and restaurants in parks. The views can be characterised more as house portraits than landscapes.

The high print quality of the originals has made it possible to enlarge the pictures for this edition. To each view a short explanatory text is attached. It includes following information about the house: modern address, name of architect, year of construction and additional information. In the end of the book a post script in Finnish can be found. It includes concise information about F. O. Liewendal and his lithographic printing office and a short history of series with multiple Helsinki view published between 1837 and 1883.