Lot 176
Description de l'Égypte, ou Recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l'expédition de l'armée française, publié par les orders de Sa Majesté l'Empereur Napoléon le Grand (English: Description of Egypt, or the collection of observations and researches which were made in Egypt during the expedition of the French Army, published by the order of His Majesty the Emperor, Napoleon the Great) partials from set.
Lot is a partial grouping (lacking volume II), of six Antiquities plate volumes together with the Preface volume from the Description de l'Égypte. Paris: Imprimerie Impériale, and Imprimerie Royale, 1809-1822. Bound in 1/2 imperial red calf over red paper covered boards with gilt titles and decor to spines and edges; five elephant folios together with two double-elephant folios.
First Imperial Edition. partial plate volumes from the set:
1. Préface historique; Explication des planches, text only.
2. Volume I – Planches: Antiquités, 1809.
3. Volume III – Planches: Antiquités, 1812.
4. Volume IV – Planches: Antiquités, 1817.
5. Volume V – Planches: Antiquités, 1822.
6. Volume I – Planches: Antiquités Mammutfolio larger plates for volumes I, IV, and V only.
7. Volume I – Planches: Carte géographiques et topographique ( geographical and topographical maps) Mammutfolio
Number of plates available offered here are as follows, within parenthesis:
Antiquités I: frontispiece, engraved map and 100 plates (3 color), (83) of 86 in this volume, remaining (12) of 14 plates bound in larger volume.
Antiquités III: 69 plates (one color), (43) in this volume, (remaining 26 plates in larger volume, not present)
Antiquités IV: 74 plates (one color), (61) in this volume, remaining (10) of 13 plates in larger volume.
Antiquités V: 89 plates, (73) of 74 in this volume, remaining (6) of 15 plates in larger volume.
Carte topographique, engraved title, (letterpress) Noms des ingenieurs, key plate, and 47 engraved maps (3 with two sections per plate)
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Provenance:
Footnote "The Description de l'Égypte was the first scientific survey of all Egypt, from its antiquities to its agriculture including language, music, costume, and natural history, (of which only the Atiquities, partial and atlas volumes offered here) and it concludes with a detailed and accurate map of the region. The numerous plates depicting the antiquities provide a comprehensive record of the richness of ancient Egyptian culture.
At the time of publication, the Description de l'Égypte was the largest printed work ever produced. Its influence was enormous, establishing Egyptology as an intellectual discipline and nurturing a passion for Egyptian art throughout the Western World. Edited by some of the leading intellectual figures in France, the Description also includes contributions from celebrated artists such as Jacques Barraband, Pierre-Joseph Redouté, Geoffrey Saint-Hilaire, Jules-César Savigny and others.
The combined work of several dozen scholars, this "living archive" of Napoleon's expedition took over twenty years to complete. The huge undertaking was co-ordinated by the Institut de l'Egypte, founded by Napoleon and with Gaspar Monge, the mathematician, as its president. Monge and the chemist Berthollet recruited leading academic figures to join the expedition, including Geoffrey Saint-Hilaire, Savigny, Méchain, Quesnot Nouet, René Desgenettes and the surgeon Dominique Jean Larrey. Of their many achievements, the discovery of the Rosetta Stone must rank amongst the most important. It was only after Napoleon's invasion of Egypt in 1798 that Europe came to know the Orient more scientifically. In the preface to the work, Fourier explains that scholars were grappling with the mysteries of Egypt in order to restore the country from what he sees as its current state of "barbarism" to its former greatness. By engulfing Egypt with the instruments of Western knowledge and power, Fourier maintained that history would recall how "Egypte fut le thêatre de sa [Napoleon's] gloire, et préserve de l'oubli toutes les circonstances de cet événement extraordinaire" (Egypt was the thêatre of Napoleon's glory, and preserves from oblivion all the circumstances of this extraordinary event). With the publication of this monumental work, Fourier's ambition was certainly achieved." - Dimensions: largest 43 x 28 in. (109 x 71 cm.)
- Condition: All volumes with considerable to heavy wear, rubbing, scuffing, cracking, and in loosening to loose bindings. Interior papers and plates show light to moderate foxing throughout, with scattered heaving age toning to verso of plates and margins, most plates with as issued tissue guards; all said the engraved images are still clear, bold, and incisive, with dramatic play of light, shadow, and the finest of detail; the five color plates remain bright and crisp.
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