Rock in the Plain of Warsan and the Valley of Israitu, Niebuhr, 1776

This is an original antique copper engraving from 1776, plate XLIII of the first volume of Carsten Niebuhr's Voyage en Arabie. It carries two views, each with its own caption. The upper reads Gezigt van eene Rots in de Vlakte Warsân. and Vue d'un Rocher dans la Plaine Warsân., a view of a rock in the plain of Warsan. The lower reads Gezigt in het Dal Israitu. and Vue dans la Vallée Israitu., a view in the valley of Israitu.

The upper view shows a great layered rock rising from a flat plain at the left, its ledges overhanging at the base, with small trees scattered across the ground and two tiny figures in front of it. At the right a small group of men, two standing and one seated on the ground, rests under a leafy tree in the foreground. The lower view looks along a valley between steep rocky slopes, with a row of pointed peaks in the distance and trees spread over the valley floor. A tall tree rises in the left foreground. In the center foreground two men on foot, both carrying staffs, lead a camel toward the left, and two more small figures walk further up the valley.

The lower right margin is lettered C. Philips Jz: sculp. for the engraver, and the plate number Tab: XLIII. is engraved at the upper right.

The plate belongs to the first volume of Niebuhr's Voyage en Arabie & en d'autres Pays circonvoisins, marked TOME PREMIER and Traduit de l'Allemand on its title page, which carries the imprint of S. J. Baalde at Amsterdam and J. van Schoonhoven and Comp. at Utrecht and the date 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 all four edges. Foxing over much of the margin. Slight wear at the bottom left and bottom right corners. Minor edge wear, shallow nicks along the bottom.

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