Books

First quarto edition, of the two great three-volume works collectively known as Roberts's Holy Land. Roberts was the first independent, professional British artist to travel so extensively in the Levant. This set is handsomely presented in a vivid contemporary binding. His 1838-9 tour produced 272 sketches, a panorama of Cairo, and three full sketchbooks, enough material to "serve me for the rest of my life" (Eastern Journal). Over the next decade, Roberts made a series of new drawings for the large coloured lithographs executed by Louis Haghe for The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt & Nubia, which was originally published by subscription from 1842 to 1849. No publication before this had presented so comprehensive a series of views of the monuments, landscape, and people of the Near East. "Roberts's Holy Land was one of the most important and elaborate ventures of nineteenth-century publishing, and it was the apotheosis of the tinted lithograph" (Abbey). Six vols in 3, quarto (291 x 203 mm). Contemporary red hard-grained morocco, spines with 5 raised bands, compartments richly gilt and lettered direct, gilt decorative panel to covers, board edges ruled in gilt, floral gilt roll to turn-ins, yellow endpapers, gilt edges. With tinted lithographed frontispiece portrait, title pages, and 239 plates, 2 chromolithographs (plates 213 and 240), and 2 maps. With tissue guards. Slightly rubbed, a few marks to gilt edges, occasional foxing, plates generally bright. A very good set. Abbey, Travel 388 (vols. I-IV only). Eastern Journal, 28 January, 1839.

David Roberts's 'Egypto & Nubia' captures the essence of ancient civilizations with exquisite artistry and detailed accounts.