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ROBERTS, David.
The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt, & Nubia.
After lithographs by Louis Haghe from drawings made on the spot … With historical descriptions by the Revd. George Croly, LL.D. [vol. IV, William Brockedon.]
New edition, in smaller format, of the two great three-volume works collectively known as Roberts's Holy Land. Roberts was the first independent, professional British artist to travel so extensively in the Near East. His tour in 1838–39 produced 272 sketches, a panorama of Cairo and three full sketchbooks, enough material to "serve me for the rest of my life" (Roberts, eastern journal, 28 Jan 1839). Over the next decade he made "a series of intire new drawings" for the large coloured lithographs executed by Louis Haghe for The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt & Nubia, which was originally published by subscription, 1842–9. No publication before this had presented so comprehensive a series of views of the monuments, landscape, and people of the Near East. "Robert's Holy Land was one of the most important and elaborate ventures of nineteenth-century publishing, and it was the apotheosis of the tinted lithograph" (Abbey, Travel).
6 volumes in 3, quarto (294 × 209 mm). Contemporary full calf, bevelled boards, red morocco title-pieces, bottle-green morocco numbering pieces, raised bands, spines gilt in compartments, double fillet gilt panel to the boards enclosing elaborate blind panelling, red edge-stain. With 250 tinted lithographs, one tint and two tint, including frontispiece portrait of Roberts and map, the plate of the Sphinx, "Simoom in the Desert", coloured. Calligraphic presentation bookplates to the front pastedown of each volume; "To the Rev. Adam D. Tait, the Manse of Kirliston as a Mark of Affectionate Esteem, R[obert] H[utchinson], Carlowrie [House] 1858" Hutchinson married Tait's daughter, their son was Sir Robert Hutchinson the renowned paediatrician, elected President of the Royal College of Surgeons. Extremities a little rubbed, some minor repairs to corners and head- and tail-caps, some light occasional foxing, a very handsome set.
