Middle East.- Roberts (David) The Holy Land, Syria, Idumae, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia, 6 vol., first edition, lithographed portrait frontispiece, 6 tinted lithographed titles, 121 tinted lithographed plates and 120 half-page illustrations, 2 engraved maps, text and plates mounted on linen stubs, vol. 1 with some water and ink staining to foot, generally very slight but more pronounced to first few leaves, 2 leaves detached, few others starting to work loose, some soiling, mainly marginal, ex-library copies with bookplate, small ink-stamp to titles or frontispieces, hinges strengthened, contemporary red half morocco, library stickers to upper covers and foot of spines, worn, some joints splitting at ends, vol. 1 lower cover detached along with final 3 plates, [Abbey, Travel 272, 885; Tooley 401, 402; Blackmer 1432], folio, 1842-49.

⁂ The first edition of David Roberts's monumental depictions of the Holy Land and Middle East. "One of the most important and elaborate [publishing] ventures of the nineteenth century" (Abbey).

"Roberts' original intention was to publish Egypt and Nubia together with The Holy Land in six volumes (this explains the 'vol. 5' on the title of Egypt, vol. 2) but this was not carried out, and the two works were brought out separately" (Blackmer).