Topographical Survey of Thebes, Tapa, Thabe, or Diasopolis Magna - John Gardner Wilkinson - Bauman Rare Books

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Topographical Survey of Thebes, Tapa, Thabe, or Diasopolis Magna

John Gardner WILKINSON

Item#: 108611 We're sorry, this item has been sold

Topographical Survey of Thebes, Tapa, Thabe, or Diasopolis Magna

Topographical Survey of Thebes, Tapa, Thabe, or Diasopolis Magna

Topographical Survey of Thebes, Tapa, Thabe, or Diasopolis Magna

Topographical Survey of Thebes, Tapa, Thabe, or Diasopolis Magna

THE FIRST COMPLETE MAP OF THE ROYAL NECROPOLIS OF THEBES, 1830, MEASURING 56 BY 64 INCHES

WILKINSON, John Gardner. Topographical Survey of Thebes, Tapa, Thabe, or Diasopolis Magna. London: [Royal Geographical Society], 1830. Large linen-backed folding map, measuring approximately 56-1/2 by 64 inches; housed in a custom cloth slipcase.

First edition of this important survey map of the royal necropolis of Thebes by noted Egyptologist Wilkinson, including an insert map of the pyramids of Giza.

Considered by many to be the "Father of British Egyptology," "Wilkinson arrived at Alexandria in 1821, and, making Cairo his base, spent 12 years in Egypt and Nubia… He twice ascended the Nile as far as the second cataract, and many times as far as Thebes, where he spent much of the years 1824, 1827, and 1828, and where in 1827 he carried on elaborate excavations and caused many of the tombs to be uncovered" (DNB). Wilkinson was "a pioneer in the decipherment of hieroglyphs, the first to recognize several royal names and first to make detailed surveys of all the major sites in Egypt, single-handedly, and to make a complete plan of Thebes. His contribution was enormous" (Clayton, The Rediscovery of Ancient Egypt, 46). The draft manuscript of this map is housed, along with Wilkinson's other papers, at the Bodleian Library of Oxford. Map includes the Western Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, Karnak, and El Assaséef, as well as a small diagram of the subterranean chambers under the tomb of Assaséef II. Insert map of the pyramids of Giza measures 16-1/2 by 18 inches. Small red ink cross near the palace of Rameses II. Bookseller paper title label to front of slipcase; private library label to spine.

Map fine with some light foxing, in a toned slipcase. A fine copy of a most scarce resource.

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Aquatint Copperplate process by which the plate is “bitten” by exposure to acid. By changing the areas of the plate that are exposed and the length of time the plate is submerged in the acid bath, the engraver can obtain fine and varying shades of gray that closely resemble watercolor washes. Although the name contains the word “tint”, this is a black-and-white printing process; aquatint plates can often be hand colored, however.
Armorial Used to describe a binding bearing the coat of arms of the original owner, or with bookplates incorporating the owner’s arms.
Association Copy copy that belonged to someone connected with the author or the contents of a book.
Boards Hard front and rear covers of a bound book which are covered in cloth, leather or paper. “Original boards” refers to cardboard-like front and back boards, from about 1700 to 1840, used as temporary protection for books before their purchasers would have them bound. Of particular value to collectors as evidence of a very early form of the book.
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Doublure Pastedowns made not of paper but of leather, for decorative purposes.
Duodecimo (12MO) Smaller than an octavo, typically less than six inches tall; smaller formats, such as 24mo and 32mo, are uncommon.
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Japanese Vellum Expensive handmade paper often used in deluxe editions.
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