How to copy 260GB iPhoto library back to MacBookPro WITHOUT "zipping" the files?

Probabably (hopefully) just pilot error at my end, hoping for an easy solution. I copied my iPhoto folder (260GB) to the MBLDuo as a backup while I installed a new replacement SSD to my Mac. Now when I try to copy it back to the right location on the Mac (as a complete folder), it insists on copying it in .zip format. And then - the download fails. What am I missing? 

Thanks for any brilliant tips or corrections!

E. 

There should be no file archiving when performing a direct file management operation, however, on some -locations- this may be an intentional process. What if you copy the file just to the desktop and then move it to the correct location from there?

Regards,