Travels in Egypt and Nubia. 1757

NORDEN, Frederik Ludvig (1708-1742). Travels in Egypt and Nubia. London: Lockyer Davis and Charles Reymers, 1757.

First edition in English. An octavo version without plates appeared the same year, as well as an abridged 'compendium' published in Dublin. Norden made a voyage through Egypt all the way down to Sudan in 1737-1738 at the request of King Christian VI of Denmark. He 'was the first European to penetrate as far as Derr in Nubia and to publish descriptions of any Nubian temples. This important work was the earliest attempt at an elaborate description of Egypt, and its plates are the most significant previous to those by Denon' (Blackmer). Blackmer 1211.

2 volumes, folio (468 x 287mm). Half-title to first vol., 2 engraved frontispieces, one a portrait, 162 plates, maps and plans, numbered 1-159 with nos 140-141 and 142-143 together, plates 17, 23, 27, 66, and 108 on two plates each, numerous engraved vignettes, initials, head- and tail-pieces (plate 58 with very short marginal tear, plate 91 lightly spotted, occasional other light spotting and offsetting). Contemporary speckled calf (rebacked, preserving original gilt backstrip, extremities lightly rubbed). Provenance: Ingestre Hall (bookplate).

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