Travels in Upper and Lower Egypt: Undertaken by Order of the Old Government of France; by C. S. Sonnini. 3 Vols.
London: Printed for John Stockdale, 1799. First edition. Hardcover. Octavo. xix, 376pp., 9 plates, 1 folding map, vii, 368pp., 20 plates, viii, 324 (32 )pp., 10 plates, including frontispieces in each volume. Contemporary three-quarter calf over marbled boards with gilt lettering on black labels and gilt ruling on spines. Speckled edges. Frontispiece engravings in each volume. Illustrated with forty engravings consisting of portraits, views, plans, a geographical chart, antiquities, plants, animals, etc., drawn on the spot under the authors' inspection. Translated from the French by Henry Hunter. Contains folding map of Egypt called Missir (28 1/2 x 18 1/2").
Sonnini was a French naturalist known for his 127 volumes "Histoire naturelle." Intending to collect rare Egyptian birds he set out with Baron de Tott's expedition in 1777. On arrival in Alexandria he found orders to explore Egypt from Louis XVI awaiting him. Contains four tables with meteorological observations made at Rosetta during November and December 1777, and February 1778. Contains 17 pages of advertisements for books printed for John Stockdale, and list of subscribers at rear. Bindings with wear along edges, small chips and bumps at corners. Joints partially cracked, boards rubbed. Bookplates, dealer stickers and stamps on inside front covers. Wormholes at lower left corner of last few pages in volume one. Bindings in overall good-, interiors in very good condition. g- to vg. Item #46240
Price: $1,500.00