Arader Galleries Archives - Rare Book Insider

The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt & Nubia.

London: Day & Son, 1855-1856. 6 volumes bound in 3, Quarto (11 ¼ x 8 1/4 ", 287mm x 210 cm). With 248 tinted lithographed plates by Louis Haghe (including frontispiece portrait of Roberts and 4 pictorial title-pages), and 2 engraved maps. First octavo edition. Bound in Publisher's lapis blue cloth gilt, central ensigns of Jerusalem incorporating the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Jerusalem (cross potent of the Knights Templar with 4 crosslets). On the spine, author and title gilt to the second panel, and volume and description to the fourth. Edges gilt. Light foxing throughout all volumes, chiefly marginal. There is dampstaining in the upper corner of vol. 1, affecting the frontispiece portrait and title-page. On the rear pastedown of volume 3, there is a bookbinder's ticket of Leighton & Son, Shoe Lane, London. On the rear pastedown of each volume there is a conservation ticket dated 1990 for repairs by Salisbury Bookbinders. David Roberts (1796-1864), a Scottish member of the Royal Academy, was an artist and scenic designer. J. M. W. Turner admired his work and encouraged him to focus on his painting. He was the first professional artist to visit the Near East without a patron or connection to a religious or military group. He sailed to Alexandria in 1838 and took an eleven month trip up the Nile through Egypt and the Holy Land. He created three sketch books on site with drawings and watercolors from 1842-1849. His monumental representation of the places he saw was "one of the most important and elaborate ventures of nineteenth-century publishing, and the apotheosis of the tinted lithograph." (Abbey). An outstanding success on its publication, the records of Roberts's journey in collaboration with lithographer Louis Haghe was described by John Ruskin as "true portraiture of scenes of historical and religious interest. They are faithful and laborious beyond any outlines from nature I have ever seen." There is a manuscript inscription on the front free endpaper of each volume "Abington Vessey from her beloved Father 1867." Abbey, Travel 388.