Norden, Frederik Ludvig

Travels in Egypt and Nubia...Translated from the original published by command of his Majesty the King of Denmark and enlarged with observations from ancient and modern authors, that have written on the antiquities of Egypt, by Dr. Peter Templeman. London: Lockyer Davis and Charles Reymers, 1757

2 volumes, folio (457 x 279 mm)🍌. Half-titles, engraved initials, head- and tai🍃l-pieces, engraved allegorical frontispiece in Vol. I, engraved portrait of the author in Vol. II, 157 engraved plates, maps and plans numbered I-CLIX, with plates CXL/CXLI and CXLII/CXLIII on two sheets, and 5 folding. Period speckled calf, covers with a gilt roll tool border, spines with raised bands in seven compartments, red and green morocco lettering pieces in the second and third, the others with repeat overall elaborate tooling in gilt: expert restoration to joints. 

First edition in English 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 volumeᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚs in French at Copenhagen in 1752-55" (Howgego). The present first English edition followed in 1757.

Norden "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 sign🌼ificant previous to those by Denon" (Blackmer).

The pꩲresent copy belonged to architect Abraham Roumieu, a pupil of architect Isaac Ware.

PROVENANCE

Abraham Roumieu (signature and block-printed and ink-ruled bookplate) — Richard Hill of Thornton House, Thornton Dale, Yorkshire, England (armori✃al bookplate)

REFERENCE

Blackme𒀰r 1211; Hilmy 2:74; Howgego N38; Weber 2:520