Egypt: Descriptive, Historical and Picturesque

What are your thoughts on this two-volume edition of Georg Eber's work?

I would love to have something like this in my collection, but total cost is over $500...

Would you say this is a worthwhile purchase? It includes many illustrations, although it looks like none are in color.

Does EP do Egypt-themed publications often? I would hate to purchase this one for such a cost and then they come out with something less expensive.

https://www.eastonpress.com/prod/739/3069/EGYPT--DESCRIPTIVE--HISTORICAL-AND-PIC...

>2 HugoDumas: get the superior Robert's Holy Land which is in color and covers Egypt, Nubia, Jerusalem, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Sinai, and Lebanon as they looked in about 1835. There were two issuances of the Robert's journey in Folio form. One washed out and the other in vibrant color. EP published the inferior set in 3 volumes while Folio Society did the more vibrant version in 2 oversized volumes. Both have identical words. After much study I got the Folio Society version because the lithographs are breathtaking; I have been there 3 times. So the plates are important. Do a Google search on Robert's Holy Land images and you will see why I rave over this set. I wish EP DLE contained the more vibrant color lithographs, because that is the set I wanted.

>2 HugoDumas:

Wow. You are correct. There is no comparison on the vibrancy of illustrations for EP and Folio Society's Holy Land. I will definitely consider the FS version, although I much prefer the binding of EP's version. The struggle!

>3 TeaAndHoney: there were 2 Folio set: DLE at 20 x 13 and an exact smaller one at 14.75 x 11, which is still huge. The later you can probably get for $511 now, which is worth it. If I were wealthy I would get the EP version. Thus the decision was easy....vibrant lithographs

>4 HugoDumas: correction. Still available from FS direct new. At $430. You will not regret it. http://www.foliosociety.com/book/HL2/the-holy-land

All that said, I don't think the two works are the same thing. Here is a description of Picturesque Egypt:

"The work was written by the great Egyptologist Georg Ebers. Ebers was a renowned scholar and archaeologist who discovered what is perhaps the most important medical papyrus of Ancient Egypt. His passion for the great ancient civilization led him to want to popularize the culture he knew so well. He wrote a variety of historical novels set in the time of Ancient Egypt that earned widespread popularity.
This magnificent work - filled with beautiful and evocative etchings - was part of his effort to spread his love and knowledge. There is clearly nothing else like it."

Roberts on the other hand was a painter. His work is superb, but I think saying you should get one over the other is like suggesting an apple over an orange.

>6 astropi: get them both. If I could only get one I would go with Robert's.

I missed out on Picturesque America, and want that :/

>8 astropi:
I haven't seen either Egypt production, but I can tell you for sure that Picturesque America rivals the most magnificent productions by EP. It took forever to sell out and is still cheap (eBay currently has a sealed set for $548 including postage), but I cannot understand why. It is filled with beautiful wood and steel engravings, superbly reproduced, by many different artists. Mortgage your house, if necessary.

>9 jroger1: Picturesque America is still on my wish list. Can't decide whether to but the EP reprint or an original edition which is somewhat cheaper.

I figured Picturesque took forever to sell out because people figured they could see larger color images of the same or similar scenes from the internet. It belittles the artistry of the engravings, of course.

>11 treereader: Also, it's a moment it time ~100 years ago, a very different looking world.

>11 treereader: >12 kdweber:
I think you are both right. Today we have color photos of many of the same scenes. But I love engravings even though they are black and white. I'm a sucker for Ansel Adams's photography, too.

Looking on eBay there is only one decent copy of the original at $950. If you love Egypt as I do, buy it now. Personally, I want it even though I have Robert's Holy Land.

Or if you're looking for a cheaper Egyptian fix, you can always spring for Taschen's Émile Prisse d'Avennes: Egyptian Art for under $70 on Amazon (list $150).

>14 HugoDumas:

Now THAT one is mighty tempting....

>16 TeaAndHoney: let me clarify. The EP version is the one I would get versus the original.

>17 HugoDumas:

Gosh, I don't know. You've gotten me excited about having the original Ebers... I didn't even think about there still being some readable copies around. Would certainly be an interesting piece of history to own!

>18 TeaAndHoney: if you have the cash go for it. That is a remarkable copy for its age. Maybe you can negotiate lower. I have for older books. Actually it is $925. Here is the item 152366134155

And here is digital copy https://m.hathitrust.org/Record/001607354

>19 HugoDumas:

I'm definitely going to think on it. It's a big purchase. Thanks for all your help! The digital copy is great.

>21 TeaAndHoney: now you have me thinking about the EP DLE even though I have Robert's Holy Land.

Thought I would add some photos since pictures speak louder than words. I think the text is very clear and readable (no fading or blotchiness). The illustrations are also beautiful--many embedded in the text and others occupying full pages--no fading, blotchiness, or other flaws that I can discern. Hope this helps a bit. You can always return them if you don't like the set--they're just a large heavy set to lug back to the post office. For big investments like these, I ask Joe in customer service to make sure the books are double-checked before sending for things like scratches on the gilt page edges and bumps/markings on the cover and spine. This set is boxed pretty well with an interior box to prevent damage during transit.



























If y'all want to see real life photos of any other books for sale at EP, let me know because there's a good chance I bought the books impulsively (I usually don't buy the autobiographies by modern figures in politics or entertainment, though). I'd be happy to post photos of what I have.

>23 hmsdrco2001: spectacular.

>23 hmsdrco2001:

Thank you so much!! I appreciate you taking the time to take these pictures and for your feedback. The copies are stunning and now I am convinced I need this set in my collection! I am in talks with a seller on an original set but your photos definitely tip the scale in EP's favor

Beautiful! And you got copy #3 :O