Hieroglyphs on a Black Granite Chest at Cairo, Antique Print, 1776

This is an original antique copper engraving from 1776, plate XXX of volume 1 of Carsten Niebuhr's Voyage en Arabie, a long folding sheet. The caption reads, in Dutch at the left, Beeld-schriften op eene kist by KALLÁ EL KÄBSCH., "Hieroglyphs on a chest at Kallá el Käbsch", and in French at the right, Hierogliphes sur une Caisse de Granit noir près de KALLÁ EL KÄBSCH À KAHIRA., "Hieroglyphs on a chest of black granite near Kallá el Käbsch at Cairo".

The plate copies one long face of the chest. A long row of five-pointed stars runs along the top, and below it a continuous band of hieroglyphs: birds, seated figures, reeds and other signs. Beneath the band the surface is divided by ruled columns of signs, between which stand three large figures drawn in solid tone: a man at the left, a figure with a jackal's head at the left of center, and a man at the far right, facing the others. Right of center is a large panel built of three horizontal bars over a grid of uprights and crossbars, crowned by a broad curved top with a spiral at each end. Small patches of stipple at the foot of some columns mark worn places in the stone. Everything is drawn in flat outline and tone, without shading.

Under the lower left corner of the image is lettered "C. J. de Huyser, direx." The plate number Tab. XXX. is engraved at the upper right.

The sheet comes from the first volume of Carsten Niebuhr's Voyage en Arabie & en d'autres Pays circonvoisins, the Tome Premier, translated from the German and issued at Amsterdam by S. J. Baalde and at Utrecht by J. van Schoonhoven and Comp., with the date MDCCLXXVI on its title page. 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.

Light uneven toning, browner toward the edges. Scattered light foxing in the margin. Folding plate, original center fold as issued. Slight wear at the top left corner. Minor edge wear, shallow nicks along the left.

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