This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/12/2023
BURTON, James (1788-1860). Excerpta Hieroglyphica. [Cairo: privately printed, 1825-29].
4 parts in one, oblong 4to. Half-title, 4 titles for each part, 48 (of 61?) engraved plates, 7 folding (2 plates dampstained, some marginal soiling). Modern quarter niger, marbled sides (corners rubbed). Provenance: Gloucestershire County Library (stamp on half-title); Robert H. Miller (bookplate covering stamp).
FIRST EDITION of the “first fairly accurate collection of hieroglyphic inscriptions for use by those who were trying to understand the ancient language. [Burton’s] book was printed as a series of plates and these were distributed to scholars and his friends” (Starkey, Travellers in Egypt, 85-90, emphasis added). A rare title of the Egyptologists first work containing the virtually unobtainable fourth part.