Egyptian Hieroglyphs on Four Pointed Shafts, Antique Niebuhr Print, 1776

This is an original antique copper engraving from 1776, a plate of Egyptian hieroglyphs. It carries no title or caption; the sheet is described here from what is drawn.

Four tall shafts stand side by side inside a ruled border, each ending in a pointed top. Under each point is a small scene of figures, seated and standing, and on two of the shafts a roughly shaded patch is drawn near the top. Below these scenes each shaft carries a single column of hieroglyphs running down its full length: large birds, a bull, seated figures, a bee, water signs, reed signs and many others, with signs enclosed in oval rings that contain a scarab. The signs are cut with shaded hatching against the plain ground of the shafts.

The credit C. J. de Huyser, direx. is lettered under the lower right corner of the border, and the plate number Tab. IV. 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.

A loss at the lower right corner, with the right margin cut away close to the printed border. Light uneven toning, browner toward the edges. Handling soiling along the right edge. A few small foxing spots in the margin.

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