Description de l'Egypte

Second edition, 29 volumes, comprising 11 atlas volumes and 18 (of 24) text volumes, comprising: atlases large folio (695 x 510mm.) and text 8vo (215 x 130mm.), uniformly bound in contemporary French red half roan, marbled boards, spines in compartments with raised bands gilt, plate volumes uncut, spines of atlas and text worn with some loss (mostly at head and foot), corners rubbed

PLATE VOLUMES, 899 (of 900?) engraved plates and maps, many double-page and/or folding, comprising:
Antiquités: 5 volumes, half-title in volume 1 only, 5 printed titles, engraved dedication (dated 1826), hand-coloured frontispiece (dated 1825), "Médaille Egyptienne" and "Description du Tableau" leaf at front of volume 1, 419 engraved plates (97+92+69+72+89), plus bound at end of volume 5: "Rosetta Stone" 8 sheets with 16 numbered plates, "Médailles trouvées en Syrie", "Canevas trigonométrique du Kaire [-Alexandrie, -Thebes]", and "Produits de la machine à graver" (245bis), without plate "Tableau synoptique des constellations", plates 26 and 51 in volume 3 with clean tear into image
Atlas géographique: printed title, double-page engraved additional title, and 52 plates and maps
Etat moderne: 2 volumes, 2 printed titles, 170 plates and maps (83+87), without a lithographed portrait of Louis XVIII (see footnote)
Histoire naturelle: 3 volumes (including volume 2bis), 3 printed titles, 244 plates (62+105+77), letterpress plate list at end



TEXT VOLUMES, 18 (of 24) volumes, half-titles, 40 engraved, lithographed or letterpress tables, map, and plates only, many folding (comprising 26 tables, one map, and 13 plates only), some light waterstaining, some gatherings rather spotted
the lot sold not subject to return

Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Wilson (1777-1849), book label in each text volume; thence by descent to Major Sholto Douglas Major Wilson; sold by his estate in these rooms 10 April 1962, lot 400 (at which time the set was sold with a specially constructed oak bookcase (current whereabouts unknown) with a brass label stating "General Count Lavalette's bequest to Sir Robert Wilson")

cf. Atabey 343; cf. BAL RIBA cat. 846; cf. Blackmer 476; cf. Hilmy I, pp.239-245; (all first editions)

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The was the first scientific survey of all Egypt, from its antiquities to its agriculture including language, music, costume, and natural history, 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". With the publication of this monumental work, Fourier's ambition was certainly achieved.

Another set of plates for the second edition was offered in these rooms (7 May 2009) which included a lithographed portrait of Louis XVIII, but did not include the engraved dedication to the Antiquités, present here, which incorporates a bust of Louis XVIII.