ROBERTS, David (1796–1864, artist); CROLY, George (1780–1860). The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt & Nubia. [With:] Egypt & Nubia. London: F.G. Moon, 1842-1849.

David Roberts’ greatest works, the first editions of the artist’s monumental depictions of the Middle East. Deluxe issue of the Egypt volumes with plates hand-colored and mounted on card. Inspired by his love of artistic adventure, Roberts departed for Alexandria in August 1839. For the rest of that year he visited Cairo and the neighboring sites. In February 1840, he set out across the Sinai for Palestine by way of Suez, Mount Sinai and Petra, arriving in Gaza, and then concluding his tour in Jerusalem. The publisher, F.G. Moon, paid Roberts £3,000 for the copyright of his sketches, and for his labour in supervising Louis Haghe’s masterly lithography. Abbey Travel 272 and 385.

Six volumes in five, folio (604 × 448mm). Mounted lithographic frontispiece portrait of Roberts on india paper by and after C. Baugniet, 248 hand-colored plates including hand-colored lithographic title-pages, the 125 plates in the three Egypt volumes with original hand-coloring and the plates mounted on card; all by L. Haghe after Roberts, 1 engraved map, text and plates mounted on guards (without “Map to Illustrate Mr. Robert’s Route”, spotting, dampstains, several plates in the 3 The Holy Land vols. discolored by early coating, marginal tear in “General View of Tyre”, “Doorway of Ballbec” caption trimmed, “Site of Petra” and “Chapel of the Convent of St. Catherine” mostly loose, tabs refreshed). Near uniform contemporary gold-tooled red morocco, the three Egypt & Nubia vols. by M.M. Holloway, marbled endleaves, edges gilt (spotting, rubbed, light scratches, joints worn). Provenance: Daniel Hodgson Kirkman (bookplates in the three Egypt & Nubia vols.).