Egyptian Hieroglyphic Inscriptions and a Scarab, Antique Niebuhr Print, 1776

This is an original antique copper engraving from 1776, a plate of Egyptian inscriptions and objects. It carries no title or caption; the sheet is described here from what is drawn, its parts keyed with the letters A to D.

At the upper left, A is a half round tablet carrying three lines of hieroglyphs, with birds and figures among the signs. At the upper right, B is an oval covered with lines of smaller hieroglyphs, and at the left below it a second oval, lettered C, carries a dense inscription in many lines. Beside it, also lettered C, is a scarab drawn from above, its head, wing cases and legs carefully shaded. The lower half of the plate is taken by D, a large rectangular object drawn from above with a tapering projection at the top. Its sunken field holds, in mirror arrangement, two round forms with crossed curves, two vase shapes, a central bell shape and a small round boss, with small signs scattered along its borders.

The credit C. J. de Huyser, direx. is lettered under the lower left corner of the border, and the plate number Tab. XI. is engraved at the upper right.

The plate comes from the first volume of Voyage en Arabie & en d'autres Pays circonvoisins, the French translation of Carsten Niebuhr's account, its title page reading TOME PREMIER. Traduit de l'Allemand. A AMSTERDAM, chez S. J. BAALDE. A UTRECHT, chez J. VAN SCHOONHOVEN & COMP. MDCCLXXVI. Carsten Niebuhr (1733 to 1815) was a German born surveyor in Danish service and the only member of the Danish expedition to Arabia (1761 to 1767), sent by King Frederick V of Denmark, to return alive. The account was first published in German at Copenhagen; this is the French translation printed in Amsterdam and Utrecht.

Light uneven toning, browner toward the edges. Marked handling soiling along the bottom and top edges. Scattered light foxing in the margin. All four corners are present.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.