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Details
DENON, Dominique Vivant, Baron de (1747-1825). Voyage dans la Basse et la Haute Égypte. Paris: Pierre Didot l'âiné, 1802. 2 volumes, broadsheet 2° (674 x 507mm). Section title to vol. II, 143 engraved plates (8 double-page), including plates 20 bis and 54 bis. (Some browning and spotting, mainly marginal). Contemporary half morocco (rebacked with old spine relaid, corners bumped). Provenance: Chetham's Library, Manchester (bookplate, sold at Christie's 26 November 1980, lot 105).
FIRST EDITION. 'DENON WAS THE FIRST TO REVEAL THE RICHNESS OF EGYPTIAN ART TO EUROPE' (Blackmer). Denon followed in Napoleon's footsteps on the expedition to Egypt, but published his influential and richly illustrated account a few years ahead of the famous Description (1809-1830). His fine engravings presented the country's riches to an eager audience, and had a substantial, early impact on the decorative arts of the day. Denon's Voyage was immediately successful: 'The instantaneous success of this work may be gauged by the fact that the new 4to and 12mo editions, and an English translation by Francis Blagdon, all appeared before the year was out' (RIBA). The Blackmer collection held only the second edition of this work. Brunet II, 599; cf. Blackmer 471; RIBA 841. (2)
FIRST EDITION. 'DENON WAS THE FIRST TO REVEAL THE RICHNESS OF EGYPTIAN ART TO EUROPE' (Blackmer). Denon followed in Napoleon's footsteps on the expedition to Egypt, but published his influential and richly illustrated account a few years ahead of the famous Description (1809-1830). His fine engravings presented the country's riches to an eager audience, and had a substantial, early impact on the decorative arts of the day. Denon's Voyage was immediately successful: 'The instantaneous success of this work may be gauged by the fact that the new 4to and 12mo editions, and an English translation by Francis Blagdon, all appeared before the year was out' (RIBA). The Blackmer collection held only the second edition of this work. Brunet II, 599; cf. Blackmer 471; RIBA 841. (2)