Mayer's Renowned "Views in Egypt" with 48 Splendid Hand Colored Folio Aquatints

(EGYPT) MAYER, Luigi. Views in Egypt, from the Original Drawings in the Possession of Sir Robert Ainslie Taken during His Embassy to Constantinople by Luigi Mayer. London: by Thomas Bensley for R. Bowyer, 1801. Folio (12" x 16.5"), modern three-quarter crimson morocco, retaining 19th-century cloth covers and marbled endpapers. Repair to lower corner of title page, not affecting letterpress. Plates and text generally clean, hand-coloring fine and vivid. An attractively bound folio volume in excellent condition.

First edition, first issue of this esteemed volume of 48 superb hand-colored folio aquatint plates engraved after Mayer’s drawings of views, monuments, tombs and costumes of Egypt. Attractively bound.
While Sir Robert Ainslie was England’s ambassador to Turkey at Constantinople from 1776 until 1792 he amassed a collection of original drawings by Luigi Mayer. The present work reproduces, by means of vividly hand-colored folio aquatints, views made by Mayer in Egypt. First issue, with plates and texts bearing watermarks of “J Whatman 1794,” “J Whatman 1801,” and “E&P 1801.” Blackmer 1097. Colas 2018. Gay 2145. Lipperheide 1577. See Abbey, Travel 369 (for the later 1804 collected edition, Views in Egypt, Palestine, and the Ottoman Empire). Bookplates, owner signature.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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