PRISSE D'AVENNES, Achille Constant Théodore Emile; ST. JOHN, James Augustus.
Oriental Album.
Oriental Album.
Characters, costumes and modes of life in the valley of the Nile.
Stock Code 102607
London, James Madden, 1848
Who was Who in Egyptology (London, 1972) describes Prisse as the 'most mysterious of all the great pioneer figures in Egyptology,' and this early album, published in the same decade that he undertook excavations at Thebes and discovered the Table of the Kings at Karnak, justifies his reputation as 'a fine artist and outstandingly brilliant observer,' equally interested in the costumes of men and women. The Anglo-Indian in Arab dress seen in the frontispiece is the botanist George Lloyd (1815-1843), and the artist's posthumous dedication records that the young man had suggested 'this series of drawings, illustrative of the valley of the Nile,' before his untimely death in a shooting accident. St. John, who was responsible for the letterpress, was also the author of the two-volume Egypt and Mohamed Ali, or Travels in the Valley of the Nile (1834).
First edition, deluxe issue. Folio (57.5 x 44.2 cm), chromolithographic additional title, hand-coloured tinted lithographic frontispiece and 30 hand-coloured plates by Lemoine, Lehnert, Mouilleron, Le Roux and others after Prisse d'Avennes, printed by Lemercier, all mounted on card and loose as issued, titled in pencil below image. Letterpress title, dedication, plate list and 60 pp. of descriptive text by St. John with 35 wood-engraved illustrations, original plain wrappers. Original morocco-backed portfolio with gilt-lettered morocco cover label, rebacked, flaps with morocco renewed, new ties, minor wear to card edges and corners, old waterstain to end leaves, portfolio covers rubbed and a little worn, plates clean and fresh, a very good copy.
Atabey 1001; Blackmer 1357; Brunet IV, 885; Colas 2427; Lipperheide Ma30; not in Abbey.
Couldn't load pickup availability
Provenance
Provenance
Delivery
Delivery
We offer secure and express delivery on all local and international orders of rare books, maps and prints placed through this website.
About us
About us
Shapero Rare Books is an internationally renowned dealer in antiquarian & rare books and works on paper.
Our Bookshop and Gallery can be found in the heart of Mayfair at 106 New Bond Street, where most of our stock is available to view and on public display.
We exhibit at major international art fairs, including TEFAF (Maastricht and New York), Frieze Masters, Art Miami and Masterpiece London, as well as antiquarian & rare book fairs including New York, Paris, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Hong Kong.
Ask us a question
Ask us a question








