Views in Egypt, from the Original Drawings in the possession of Sir Robert
Ainslie, taken during his Embassy to Constantinople by Luigy Mayer […] With Historical Observations […]. London: printed by Thomas Bensley for R. Bowyer, 1801 (aquatints dated 1801-1803). English.
48 hand-colored aquatint plates, after Luigy Mayer's drawings of Egypt. The aquatints depict the Nile, the pyramids, the Great Sphinx of Giza, views of Cairo and other cities, mosques, local figures – an Egyptian bey, a Sheikh, female dancer, Bedouins, and more. The drawing were made by Mayer for British diplomat and orientalist Robert Ainsley (ca. 1730 – 1812), during the latter's tenure as British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.
Two more volumes with aquatint plates after Mayer's drawings – "Views in Palestine" (see next lot) and "Views of the Ottoman Empire" – were published around the same time. In 1804, the three volumes were put together and sold with the general title page "Views in Egypt, Palestine, and other parts of the Ottoman Empire".
[2] ff., 102, [2] pp. + [48] aquatint plates, approx. 46 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including foxing (many stains to tissue guards; most aquatints clean). Some marginal tears. Minor tears to tissue guards. Missing several tissue guards. Some leaves loose. Leather-covered, gilt-decorated boards. Blemishes and abrasions to boards; wear and open tears to spine. Boards detached (with some of the first and last leaves). Bookplate on inside front board (James, Duke of Montrose).