Three Blocks of Hieroglyphs from Small Alabaster Pots, Niebuhr, 1776

This is an original antique copper engraving from 1776, plate XXXVIII of volume 1 of Carsten Niebuhr's Voyage en Arabie. The caption reads, in Dutch and then in French, Beeld-Schriften, op kleine Albasten Potten. and Hiérogliphes, sur de petits Pots d'Albâtre., meaning "Hieroglyphs on Small Alabaster Pots".

As on the previous plate, only the inscriptions are copied and no vessels are drawn. Three blocks of hieroglyphs stand side by side within the border, each lettered at the top: C at the left with five ruled columns, E in the middle, shorter and set lower, with four columns, and D at the right with five columns. The signs run from top to bottom in each column and are copied in outline with fine hatching: birds of several kinds, seated figures, an eye, a hand, pointed shapes, coiled cords, half circles, water lines and small enclosures. A number of signs are engraved in light stipple only, where the original was worn, so the copy records the state of the surface as well as the lettering.

The plate number Tab: XXXVIII. is engraved upright along the right margin, beside the border. No artist's or engraver's name is lettered on this sheet.

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. Handling soiling along the top edge. A few small foxing spots in the margin.

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