Subject: Prints - Botanical
Period: 1820 (circa)
Publication: Description de l'Egypte
Color: Hand Color
Size:
27.1 x 20.5 inches
68.8 x 52.1 cm
This oblong elephant folio sheet includes three species of flora that were found in along the Nile River in Egypt in the early 19th century. Alire Raffeneau-Delile (1778-1850), a French botanist, accompanied Napoleon on his Nile campaign to record plant life in Egypt. The resulting work from this expedition, Description de l'Egypte, was published in parts beginning in 1809. In 1820, Charles X granted permission to publisher Charles Louis Panckoucke to reprint the work (which consisted of over 800 plates) in a limited edition of 1,000 copies, which were offered to institutions. This second edition is considered the "Royal Edition" and can be identified by a blind stamp on each plate that states: "Description de l'Egypte 2 Ed. Publiee par C.L.F. Pancoucke." This plate includes the blind stamp at top right. Size is given for the full sheet.
References:
Condition: A
A bright sheet with a hint of soiling along the edges.