NORDEN, Fridericus Ludovicus

Cuts to Norden's Travels. [Voyage d' Egypte et de Nubie]

Copenhagen: 1755. Elephant Folio - over 15 - 23" tall. Full Calf. Illustrations only. Contains 169 numbered plates + frontispiece + 6 other unnumbered plates, as called for, contemporary full tree calf, joints a little cracked but holding, extremities showing wear, but a very good unfoxed original folio copy, of the rare illustrated volume, First edition of the plates of an important early illustrated account of exploration in Egypt. Norden, a Captain in the Danish Navy, made a journey in 1737-1738 through Egypt as far south as Sudan at the request of King Christian VI of Denmark. "After touring Alexandria and Cairo he proceeded up the Nile as far as Derr in Nubia, one night unknowingly passing Richard Pococke travelling in the opposite direction. Norden then retraced his steps to Alexandria and re-embarked for Europe in May 1738. During his year in Egypt, Norden produced the first coherent maps of the country . He died in Paris in September 1742, but his friends organized his papers on Egypt and published them in two volumes in French at Copenhagen in 1752-55" (Howgego). The present first English edition followed in 1757. 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), "The first map of the Nile between Cairo and Derr based on autopsy, indicating all locales on the river banks" (cf. Henze). Contents and quality of these engraved plates is impressive. Very Good. Item #020271

Price: $8,000.00 NZD