D'ANVILLE, Jean Baptiste Bourguignon (1697-1782) - Mémoires sur l’Egypte ancienne et moderne. Paris: Stamperia Reale, 1766.   First edition of the first scientific and cartographic description of Egypt made by D'Anville appointed Geographer of the King of France at the age of 22. Although the author had never traveled to those places, he managed to make maps of considerable precision based on information from the English explorer Richard Pococke, the Danish Frederick Norden and Father Sicard. The map of the Hijaz is of particular interest for the precise identification of the Holy Cities and the port of Jeddah.   4to (254 x 191mm). Woodcut royal coat of arms on title, woodcut head-and-tail pieces, 7 engraved maps (rare small marginal tears on plates, foxing and browning). Contemporary mottled calf, gilt titles and decorations on spine with 5 raised bands, red edges, marbled endpapers (small paperflaw to front endpaper, minimal losses on joints, small stains on the front cover, minimum defects).

Estimate € 400 - 600