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POCOCKE, Richard (1704-1765)
A Description of the East, and Some other Countries ... Observations on Egypt; [Vol. II, part 1: Observations on Palæstine or the Holy Land, Syria, Mesopotamia, Cyprus, and Candia; Vol. II, part 2: Observations on the Islands of the Archipelago, Asia Minor, Thrace, Greece, and some other parts of Europe]
London: W. Bowyer, 1734-1735. Two volumes in 3, folio (15 12/ x 10 inches). 3 engraved title vignettes, 1 engraved dedication leaf bound at the front of vol.I, 178 engraved plates, plans and maps (17 folding, the 12 botanical plates by G.D. Ehret, the others unsigned), 1 headpiece, 1 illustration. (5 plates shaved close). Contemporary calf gilt, covers with overall abstract design in red and blue translucent dyes, triple fillet border in gilt, spines gilt in seven compartments with raised bands, light brown morocco lettering-pieces in the second and third compartments, the others with repeat pattern in gilt, gilt turn-ins, comb-marbled endpapers, marbled edges.
A very fine set of the first edition of one of the first accurate records of Middle-Eastern antiquities and culture to be published in the modern era.
After graduating from Oxford, Pococke spent three years travelling in the Middle East, from 1735 to 1738. He evidently combined determined scholarly curiousity with artistic ability of a high order, as the present work so ably demonstrates. He provides descriptions of all aspects of the country, its history and culture as well as plates of costumes, plants and views as well as detailed plans. As one of the first Englishmen to record his journey up the Nile, his beautifully illustrated account is particularly valuable as an early record of Egyptian antiquities as they stood at the start of the modern era. Pococke visited Thebes and travelled as far south as Philae and the First Cataract at Philae. On his return journey northwards he met up, by chance, with the Danish traveller Frederik Norden (1708-1742). Norden continued southwards, eventually reaching Derr. Both travellers made careful drawings of the Great Sphinx at Giza, but Pococke employed some artistic license and replaced the colossal statue's missing nose, whilst Norden pictured what he saw. The publication of the present work brought a degree of prestige to Pococke and subsequently he was a founder member of the Egyptian Club which was made up of gentlemen who had visited Egypt (Norden was another founder member).
Allibone 1613; Blackmer 1323; Brunet, IV, 750; Ibrahim-Hilmy II, p124; Lowndes, III, 1893.
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#19555 $22,500.00 
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© 2002-2005 Donald A. Heald
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