[Rarebooks] Offering: The first edition of Rosellini's monumental work on Egypt, 1832-1844.

[Michael John Thompson]

The first edition of Rosellini's monumental work on Egypt, 1832-1844.

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ROSELLINI, Ippolito. I MONUMENTI DELL'EGITTO E DELLA NUBIA, disegnati dalla 
spedizione scientifico-letteraria toscana in Egitto; distribuiti in ordine 
di materie, interpretati ed illustrati.

Pisa: Niccolo Capurro. 1832-1844. First edition. Nine volumes. Octavo, 
contemporary full vellum bordered in gilt on front panel, gilt decorations 
on spines, red title labels. Numerous plates, some folding. Comprising: 
Part One: Monumenti Storici, 4 volumes in 5; Part Two: Monumenti Civilii, 3 
volumes; Part 3, Monumenti del Culto, 1 volume. A complete set of the text 
volumes only, three large folio atlases of plates were also issued to 
accompany the text, these are not present here. The text is in Italian.

  Vol 1: 316 pp, 15 plates (plus one extra folding plate); Vol 2: 531 pp., 
29 plates (plus one extra folding plate);  Vol 3: 454 pp, 4 folding plates; 
Vol 4: 342 pp, one folding plate; Vol 5: 405 pp, 3 folding plates; Vol 6: 
342 pp., Vol 7: 474 pp., one folding plate; Vol. 8: 539 pp., one folding 
plate; Vol 9: 392 pp., in total 44 single page and 12 folding plates.

The first edition of this monumental work by the founder of Egyptology in 
Italy. Rosellini, 1800-1843, head of the Tuscan delegation in Jean-Francois 
Champollion's joint  Franco-Tuscan scientific expedition to Egypt in 
1828-1829. These volumes are the main result of this expedition, and became 
a highly influential Egyptological reference of the mid-nineteenth century. 
Some 3,300 pages of text are here. The work is mostly famous for the atlas 
volumes which contain some 395 folio plates, obviously not present here. 
The text volumes do have numerous small plates consisting mostly of 
transcriptions of  inscriptions in tombs and temples.

Some foxing, but mild; vellum generally age-darkened and dust soiled, title 
labels moderately chipped, bookplates of the Library of the Society of 
Biblical Archaeology on front paste-downs and older, plain library marks at 
base of spines. A few marginal notes in pencil; a very good set. Rare, with 
no copies at public auction since 1963 (and that being the only the text 
volumes as well) . Very few copies are held in institutional libraries. 
There was funding trouble with the publication which extended over a period 
of  12 years, the final volume was issued after Rosellini's death. These 
volumes are rare, and although lacking the monumental atlases, they are 
complete as issued with all plates.

Together, nine volumes: $1,250.00 USD

Terms: as usual.


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Michael John Thompson
Member, Antiquarian Booksellers Association of Canada
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Hornby Island, BC
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