Mayer, Louis. Vues en Egypte, d’après les Dessins originaux en la possession de Sir Robert Ainslie, pris durant son Ambassade à Constantinople par Louis Mayer… avec des observations historiques et des remarques particulières sur les Mœurs et les Usages des habitans de ce pays.

First edition in French language of this superb album by Mayer dedicated to Egypt.
Brunet, III, 1556-1557; Colas n°2019.

The illustration is composed of 48 plates engraved in aquatint and finely watercolored by Thomas Milton after the compositions that Louis Mayer (1755-1803) had made on the sight on Sir Robert Ainslie’s request, back then English ambassador to Constantinople from 1776 to 1792.

“There are some copies with English text under the date 1801 and others with the French text dated 1802” (Brunet).

The plates are the same in both editions.

“Magnificent book, of which the 48 engraved coloured plates act like real fine paintings”. (Catalogue des livres du cabinet de M. L…, 1807, n°5851)

A fine copy of this album about Egypt, preserved with wide margins since untrimmed, in its contemporary red half-morocco binding.