This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/26/2022
ROBERTS, David (1796–1864), illustrator. The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt, and Nubia. With historical descriptions by Reverend George Croly. London: Day & Son, 1855–1856. 6 volumes in 3, 4to (298 x 206 mm). 250 tinted lithographed plates and maps including the 6 pictorial titles and 2 frontispieces by Louis Hache after original drawings by Roberts, all under tissue–guards (occasional pale foxing to plate versos, some pale foxing to titles and frontispieces, else bright). Later half green straight–grain morocco gilt, 6 compartments with 5 raised bands gilt, gilt scrollwork in 4 compartments, gilt–lettering in remainder, all edges gilt (light rubbing to extremities). FIRST QUARTO EDITION of Robert’s monumental work on the Holy Land and the Near East, originally issued in 41 folio parts over 7 years. Roberts was the first British artist to sketch the monuments of Ancient Egypt, set on “Plains so vast… that, until you come near them, you have no idea of their magnificence”. In the span of just two and half months in 1838, travelling some 800 miles south from Cairo, Roberts “recorded the monumental temple sites along the Nile in more than one hundred sketches” (Blackmer). Abbey, Travel 388; Blackmer 1432.