About the Sarakatsanoi, transhumant shepherds of the Balkans, 1957

Angheliki Hadjimichali: Σαρακατσάνοι [Sarakatsani]. Volume 1 in 2 parts (all published). With one colour plate, 2 folded maps, of which 1 coloured, and 318 text illustrations depicting photos and sketches. Athens: Self published (Kakoulidi [letterpress], Papachrysantou [wrappers], Stratou [maps] 1957.

Large-4to. (29,3:23,5,5 cm). [4 leaves (pre-title, title, chapter title etc.)], 9 [1] (t.o.c.), σγ, 85 [1] (statistics) pages; [3 leaves (pre-title, title, chapter title)], 498 [2] pages. Colour offset, cliché and letterpress, saddle-stitched in the original illustrated wrappers with white and black title printing on front cover and spine.

Monumental, profusely illustrated work on the Sarakatsani, a formerly transhumant ethnic Greek shepherd population.

Contents, Illustration: Rare, comprehensive and thoroughly illustrated study by Greek historian and ethnographer Angheliki Hadjimichali (or Angelikis Chatzimichali, 1895-1965) on the history and present of the Sarakatsani, an ethnic Greek population of shepherds then still not settled but transhumant. Envisaged to appear in 3 volumes, only 2 were finally published. Besides a comprehensive account on all aspects of Sarakatsani culture and living circumstances as well as a substantial chapter with statistics, present publication puts a strong focus on illustrations, e.g. by including numerous private photographies taken or sketches drawn by the researcher depicting community members and groups, housing, household goods, tools and art objects.

The colour plate shows embroideries applied to folk costumes. 2 folded maps at the end of vol. 1 give a deeper insight into seasonal migration movements of the Sarakatsani across the Southern Balkans.

Condition: Wrappers at margins occasionally slightly torn, edges minimally dusty, otherwise very well preserved, mainly uncut set of this publication with a stated print run of 1000 copies, hard to find in trade however.