Description:

Theodore Roosevelt
Egypt, ca. 1910
Fantastic Theodore Roosevelt on Horseback Smithsonian-Roosevelt African Expedition
Photograph

Fantastic original Underwood & Underwood photograph authenticated and encapsulated by PSA/DNA as a Type II, capturing Theodore Roosevelt during his celebrated African and Middle Eastern tour of 1909–1910. The image shows Roosevelt seated confidently on horseback, dressed in a safari-style jacket and pith helmet, alongside an Egyptian guide in traditional robes. Behind them, ancient ruins, possibly part of the monumental complexes near Luxor or Karnak frame the scene. The verso bears period pencil notations reading "In Egypt / African Tour" The photo measures 9" x 7.75" and is encapsulated to an overall size of 9.75" x 13.25."

After leaving the White House in March 1909, Theodore Roosevelt embarked on one of the most famous journeys of his life: the Smithsonian-Roosevelt African Expedition. Sponsored jointly by the Smithsonian Institution and financed in part by Andrew Carnegie, the expedition aimed to collect zoological specimens for the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., while simultaneously cementing Roosevelt's public role as a man of action, science, and empire. Over the course of nearly a year, Roosevelt, his son Kermit, and a team of naturalists traversed British East Africa, the Congo, and Sudan, collecting more than 11,000 animal specimens.

Following this grueling safari, Roosevelt continued northward into Egypt in early 1910. There, he visited the monumental ruins along the Nile—sites such as Luxor, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings—immersing himself in the history of one of the world's great ancient civilizations. Egypt was also politically charged at the time: under British occupation since 1882, Cairo was a hub of both imperial power and nationalist ferment. Roosevelt, who believed strongly in the civilizing mission of empire, delivered speeches during his visit that expressed support for British administration in the region, reflecting his worldview of order, discipline, and progress through colonial governance.

The visual of Roosevelt astride a horse before Egypt's ruins perfectly captured his cultivated image: the adventurer-scholar who bridged the modern and the ancient, science and empire, the West and the wider world. Newspapers in the United States and Europe eagerly published such photographs, reinforcing Roosevelt's reputation not only as a former president but as a global statesman and intrepid explorer.

This original press photograph is credited to Underwood & Underwood, one of the most influential photojournalism agencies of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Founded in the 1880s, the company became a global leader in stereoscopic imagery and news photography, known for distributing high quality visual coverage of major events to newspapers and magazines worldwide.
This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: Photo 9" x 7.75", Slab: 9.75" x 13.25"
  • Medium: Photograph

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November 19, 2025 10:00 AM EST
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