FIRST EDITION. 6 volumes bound in 7 (4 Holy Land, 3 Egypt & Nubia), Deluxe subscribers’ copy, portrait frontispiece, map, five pictorial lithograph titles (2 Holy Land, 3 Egypt & Nubia), and 241 (121 full-page, 120 half-page) plates lithographed by Louis Haghe after Roberts, in the scarcest form, with original hand-colour, cut to the edge of the image and mounted on card in imitation of water-colours, as issued, mounted on guards throughout, contemporary brown half morocco gilt, an excellent set. A fine clean set, bound from the original parts of David Roberts’ monumental work in its most desirable format, hand-coloured under the artist's supervision. In the 1830's tourism in the Holy Land was increasing as the Pasha of Egypt, Muhammad Ali, consolidated his authority and promoted the research into and adoption of European culture. Travel books describing and illustrating the holy sites increased, and the scientific investigations of Edward Robinson were published in 1841. David Roberts (1796–1864), a scene painter for the Pantheon Theatre in Edinburgh, who had established a reputation as a painter of topographical and architectural views, took advantage of the trend to organize a painting expedition to the Holy Land in 1838. Arriving in Cairo in September 1838, he crossed the desert by way of Suez, Mount Sinai, and Petra to Gaza and Jerusalem accompanied by tribes of Bedouins, friends, and guides. He later visited the Dead Sea, the Lake of Tiberias, Lebanon, and the ruins of Baalbac. Returning to England in late 1839, he sought a publisher willing to produce a lavish edition of his views. Rejected by the Finden Brothers and John Murray, he signed a contract with Francis Graham Moon in 1840. He and Moon shrewdly promoted their project by organizing a private viewing of Roberts' watercolors and drawings for Queen Victoria, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and other influential people who immediately subscribed. They mounted a public exhibition of some travel sketches in many British cities, and the favourable press notices attracted additional subscriptions, amounting to nearly double what the project required. His work brought tremendous fame, and historians praised the accuracy of his rendering of architectural details and sculptures. Coloured plates in order: Egypt and Nubia. Vol 1. 1. Frontispiece. View under the Grand Portico Philae. 2. Engraved title page. Entrance to the Great Temple of Aboo-Simbel, Nubia. 3. Pyramids of Gerzeh, from the Nile. 4. View on the Nile looking towards The Pyramids of Dasher and Taccara. 5. Pompey's Pillar, Alexandria. 6. Kom Ombo. 7. Temple at Tafa in Nubia. 8. The Great Temple of Aboo-Simble, Nubia (Colossal Figures). 9. Excavated Temple of Gyrshe, Nubia. 10. Portico of the temple of Edfou, Upper Egypt, Nov 24th, 1838. 11. Statues of Memnon, Thebes, Dec 4th, 1838. 12. Thebes, Dec 4th, 1838. [Colossal Statues of Amunoph III] 13. Sanctuary of the Temple of Aboo-Simbel, Nubia. 14. Interior of the Temple of Aboo-Simbel, Nov 9th, 1836, Nubia. 15. Ruins of Luxor, from the S.W. 16. General View of the Ruins of Luxor from the Nile, 1838. 17. The Great Sphinx, Pyramids of Gerzeh [side view]. 18. The Great Sphinx, Pyramids of Gizeh, July 17th, 1839. 19. Dacke in Nubia, Nov 14th, 1836. 20. Thebes Great Hall at Karnac, Nov 28th 1838. 21. Obelisk at Alexandria, commonly called Cleopatra's Needle. 22. Luxor, Dec 1st, 1838 [Obelisk]. 23. Wady Maharraka, Nubia, Nov 14th, 1838. 24. Temple of Esneh, Nov 25th, 1838. 25. Temple of Wady Kardassy in Nubia. 26. General View of the Island of Philae, Nubia, Nov 18th, 1838. 27. Abyssinian Slaves resting at Korti, Nubia. 28. Portico of the Temple of Kalabshe. 29. At Luxor, Thebes, Upper Egypt. 30. Libyan Chain of Mountains from the Temple of Luxor. 31. Approach of the Temple of Wady Saboua, Nubia. 32. View from under the Portico of Temple of Edfou, Upper Egypt. 33. One of two Colossal Statues of Rameses II. Entrance to the Temple of Luxor. 34. Temple of Edfou - Ancient Appolinopolis, Upper Egypt. 35. Dendera, Dec 1838 [Gateway]. 36. Dendera, Dec 7th, 1838 [Portico of the Temple]. 37. Siout, Upper Egypt. ** Ruins of Karnac.** 38. Nubian Women at Kortie, on the Nile. 39. Grand Portico of the Temple of Philae, Nubia. 40. Entrance to the Caves of Beni Hassan. 41. Grand Approach to the Temple of Philae, Nubia. 42. Temple of Wady Saboua, Nubia. Egypt and Nubia. Vol 2. 1. Frontispiece. Front Elevation of the Great Temple of Aboosimble, Nubia. 2. Vignette to title page. Great Gateway leading to the Temple of Karnac, Thebes. 3. Philae, Nov 18th, 1838. 4. Group of Nubians, Wady Kardassy. 5. Fragments of the Great Colossi at the Memnorium, Thebes. 6. Fortress of Ibrim, Nubia. 7. Approach to The Fortress of Ibrim, Nubia. 8. Colossus in front of Temple of Wady Saboua, Nubia. 9. Ruins of Memnorium, Thebes, Dec 5th 1838. 10. A Persian Wheel used in raising the water from the Nile. 11. Entrance to the Temple of Amun, Thebes. 12. Island of Philae, on the Nile, Nubia [Sunset]. 13. Hager Setsilis. 14. Part of Hall of Columns at Karnak, Thebes. 15. Karnak, Nov 27rh, 1838 [View looking across the Hall of Columns]. 16. Ruins - Temple of the Island of Biggeh, Nubia. 17. Karnac, Nov 29th, 1838 [The Dromos or First Court]. 18. Remains of the Temple of Medamout, near Thebes. 19. Medinet Abou, Thebes., Dec 5th, 1832 [Ruins of Christian Church]. 20. Temple of Amdda of Hassaya in Nubia. 21. Medint About, Thebes. Dec 8th, 1838. 22. Temple of Dandour, Nubia. 23. The Hypaethral Temple at Philae called the Bed of Pharaoh. 24. Temple of Isis on the roof of the great Temple of Dendera. 25. Pyramids of Geezeh. 26. Lateral View of the Temple called the Typhonaem at Dendera. 27. View from under the Portico of the Temple of Dendera. 28. Ruins of the Temple of Wady Kardeseh, Nubia. 29. General View of Essouan and The Island of Elephantine. 30. Obelisk of Heliopolis, 1839. 31. Karnac, Nov 29th, 1838. [Oblique View of the Hall of Columns]. 32. Temple at Wady Dabod, Nubia. 33. Karnak [General View looking towards Baban-el-Molook]. 34. Dayr el Medineh, Thebes [View from under the Portico]. 35. Entrance to the Tombs of the Kings of Thebes - Bab-el-Malouk. 36. Excavated Temples of Aboosimbel, Nubia. 37. Statues of Memnon at Thebes, during the Inundation. 38. Way Dabod, Nubia. Nov 16th, 1838. 39. Grand Entrance to the Temple of Luxor. 40. Temple of Kalabshee, Nubia. Nov 1838. 41. Portico of the Temple. Edfou, Upper Egypt, Nov 24th, 1838 [Facade of the Pronaos]. 42. Hermont. Nov 26th, 1838. Ancient Hermontin. 43. Kom Ombo, Nov 21st, 1838. [Uncoloured map to illustrate the sketches of David Roberts in Egypt & Nubia.] Egypt and Nubia. Vol 3. 1. Frontispiece. Interview with the Viceroy of Egypt at his Palace, at Alexandria, May 12th, 1839. 2. Vignette title page. Street Scene in Cairo. 3. Gate of Victory and Minaret of the Mosque El-Hakim. 4. [Approach to] Alexandria. 5. Gates of Medwaleys, Cairo. 6. Minarets and Grand Entrance of the Metwaleys at Cairo. 7. Ruined Mosques in the Desert West of the Citadel. 8. Mosque of Sultan Hassan, Cairo. 9. One of the Tombs of the Khalifs, Cairo. 10. Bazaar of the Silk Mercers, Cairo. 11. Tombs of the Caliphs, Cairo. 12. Tombs of the Khalifs, Cairo [Mosque of the Sultan Kait bey]. 13. The Minaret of the Mosque El Rhamree. 14. Cairo, looking West. 15. The Holy Tree, Metereah. 16. The Entrance to the Citadel of Cairo. 17. Tombs of the Caliphs, Cairo. Mosque of Ayed Bey. 18. Bazaar of the Coppersmiths, Cairo. 19. Minaret of the principal Mosque Siout, Upper Egypt. 20. Interior of the Mosque of the Metwaleys. 21. Tombs of the Memlooks, Cairo [with an Arab Funeral]. 22. Grand Entrance to the Mosque of the Sultan Hassan. 23. Cairo [The Aqueduct of the Nile from the Island of Rhoda]. 24. Mosque El Mooristan, Cairo. 25. Bullack, Cairo [Principal Mosque]. 26. Cairo from the Gate of Citizeneb looking towards the Desert of Suez. 27. In the Slave Market at Cairo. 28. Approach of the Simoon - Desert of Gizeh. 29. The Nileometer, Island of Rhoda. 30. View of the Nile Ferry to Gizeh. 31. The Letter Writer, Cairo. 32. Modern Mansion shewing the arabesque architecture of Cairo. 33. Tombs of the Hemlocks, Cairo. 34. The Citadel of Cairo, Residence of Mehemet Ali. 35. The Coffee Shop. 36. Interior of the Mosque of Sultan El Ghoree. 37. Dancing Girls at Cairo. 38. Mosque of the Sultan Hassan from the Great Square of the Rumeyleh. The Holy Land. Part I. [Frontis. An uncoloured portrait of David Roberts R.A.] 1. Title page. Entrance to the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem. 2. Gate of Damascus, Jerusalem. 3. Greek Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem. 4. Tomb of St. James. Valley of Jehoshophat, April 1830. 5. Jerusalem, from the Mount of Olives, April 8th, 1839. 6. Entrance to the Tombs of the Kings, Jerusalem. 7. Mosque of Omar shewing the Site of the Temple. 8. Tomb of Zechariah. Valley of Jehosophat. 9. [Jerusalem from the South]. 10. Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem. 11. [The Pool of Bethesda]. 12. Citadel of Jerusalem without the Walls. 13. The Shrine of the Holy Sepulchre, April 10th, 1839. 14. Golden Gate of the Temple Shewing part of the ancient walls. 15. [Church of the Purification] Jerusalem. 16. Fountain of Siloam. Valley of Jehosophat. 17. Jerusalem [from the road leading to Bethany] April 5th, 1839. 18. The Stone of Unction, Church of the Holy Sepulchre. 19. Crypt of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem [Chapel of St. Helena]. 20. Fountain of Job. Valley of Hinnom. 21. Jerusalem [from the North]. April 19th, 1839. 22. Lower Pool of Siloam. Valley of Jehosophat. 23. Citadel of Jerusalem [Entrance] April 19th, 1839. 24. Absalom's Pillar. Valley of Jehosophat. 25. [Calvary] Jerusalem, April 10th, 1839. The Holy Land. Part II 1. Shrine of the Nativity, Bethlehem, April 6th, 1839. 2. Bethlehem, April 6th, 1839. 3. Bethany, April 1st, 1839. 4. Chancel of the Church of St. Helena. 5. Encampment of Pilgrims, Jericho, April 1st, 1839. 6. Descent upon the Valley of the Jordan, April 2nd, 1839. 7. Banks of the Jordan, April 2nd, 1839. 8. Jericho, April 3rd, 1839. 9. The Dead Sea looking towards Moab, April 4th, 1839. 10. Convent of St. Saba, April 4th, 1839. 11. Chapel of the Convent of St. Saba, April 4th, 1839. 12. Convent of St. Saba [Wilderness of Engedi] April 1839. 13. Mount Tabor from the Plains of Esdraelon. April 19th, 1839. 14. Nazareth [General View] April 28th, 1839. 15. Fountain of the Virgin. Nazareth, April 21st, 1839. 16. Convent of the Terra Santa. Nazareth, April 21st, 1839. 17. Shrine of the Annunciation, Nazareth, April 20th, 1839. 18. Chapel of the Annunciation, Nazareth, April 28th, 1839. 19. Fountain at Cana, April 21st, 1839. 20. Site of Cana of Galilee, April 21st, 1839. 21. Town of Tiberias, looking towards Lebanon. 22. Sea of Galilee, or Genezareth looking towards Bashan, April 21st, 1839. 23. Tabarius from the Walls. Saffet in the Distance, April 22nd, 1839. 24. City of Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee [loooking towards Hermon], April 22nd, 1839. 25. Tomb of Joseph at Shechem, April 17th, 1839. 26. Jacob's Well at Shechem, April 17th, 1839. 27. Entrance to Nablous, April 17th, 1839. 28. Nablous ancient Shechem, April 17th, 1839. 29. Ruins of the Church of St. John, Sabaste. 30. Sebaste ancient Samaria, April 17th 1839. The Holy Land. Part III. 1. Title page. Baalbec from the Fountain, May 7th, 1839. 2. Beit Jebrin, March 7th, 1839. 3. Hebron. March 18th, 1839. 4. Semua [Ruins], March 16th, 1839. 5. Askelon. 6. Ashdod, March 24th, 1839. 7. Gaza, March 21st, 1839. 8. Christian Church of St. George at Lud, ancient Lydda. March 29th, 1839. 9. Jaffa, ancient Joppa, April 16th, 1839. 10. Jaffa, March 26th, 1839. 11. Caiphas looking towards Mount Carmel, April 24th, 1839. 12. Ramla, ancient Arimathea, March 27th, 1839. 13. St. Jean d'Acre, April 24th, 1839 [from the land]. 14. St. Jean d'Acre, April 25th 1839. 15. Ras el Abiad, the coast of Syria, April 26th, 1839. 16. Port of Tyre, April 27th, 1839. 17. Tsur, ancient Tyre, April 27th, 1839. 18. Ruins [of an Ionic Temple] called Om El Hamed, near Tyre, April 25th, 1839. 19. Tsur, ancient Tyre, from the Isthmus, April 27th, 1839. 20. Sarepta, April 27rh, 1839. 21. Sarda, ancient Sidon, April 28th 1839. 22. Sidon [from the North], April 29th, 1839. 23. Sidon, looking towards Lebanon. 24. Citadel of Sidon, April 28th, 1839. 25. Ruins of Baalbec, May 5th, 1839. 26. Jenin, ancient Jezreel, April 17th, 1839. 27. Baalbec [Remains of Western Portico.] 28. Lesser Temple of Baalbek, May 5th, 1839. 29. Baalbec [The Doorway], May 7th, 1839. 30. Circular Temple at Baalbec, Mat 7th 1839. 31. Ruins of the Eastern Portico of the Temple of Baalbec, May 6th, 1839. The Holy Land. Part IV. 1. Arabs of the Tribe of the Benisaid, Feb 17th, 1839. 2. El Dier, Petra, March 8th, 1839. 3. Mount Seir, Wady el Ghor, [Encampment of the Alloeen] March 4th, 1839. 4.** Petra, March 7th 1839 [El Khasne].** 5. Approach to Petra. An Ancient Watch Tower commanding the Valley of El Ghor. Feb 5th, 1839. 6. Temple called El Khasne, Petra, March 7th, 1839. 7. Triumphal Arch across the Ravine leading to Petra. 8. Petra [Eastern End of the Valley], March 8th, 1839. 9. Tomb of Aaron. Summit of Mount Hor, March 11th, 1839. 10. Entrance to Petra [The Theatre], March 10th, 1839. 11. Gerbil Hor [from the Cliffs encircling Petra]. March 5th, 1839. 12. Remains of a Triumphal Arch at Petra, March 8th, 1839. 13. Conference [of Arabs] at Wady Moosa, March 6th, 1839. 14. Lower end of the valley showing the Acropolis, Petra. March 9th, 1839. 15. Excavated Mansions of Petra. March 7th, 1839. 16. [The Ravine] Petra, March 10th, 1839. 17. Sepulchral Monuments, Petra, March 9th, 1839. 18. Petra, looking South, March 9th, 1839. 19. Fortress of Akabah, Arabia Petra. Feb 28th, 1839. 20. Island of Graie, Gulf of Akabah - Arabia Petra, Feb 27th, 1839. 21. The Convent of St. Catherine, Mount Sinai, Feb 21st, 1839. 22. Encampment of the Aulad Sa'id, Mount Sinai, Feb 18th 1839. 23. Rock of Moses, Wady-el-Leja, Mount Horeb. Feb 22nd, 1839. 24. Chapel of the Convent of St. Catherine on Mount Sinai, Feb 21st, 1839. 25. Christian & Mahomedan Chapels on the Summit of Sinai. Feb 20th, 1839. 26. Ascent of the lower of Sinai, Feb 18th, 1839. 27. Ascent to the Summit of Sinai. 28. The Convent of St. Catherine, Mount Sinai looking towards the Plain of the Encampment, Feb 21st, 1839. 29. Chapel of Elija on Mount Horeb, Feb 20th, 1839. 30. Convent of St. Catherine with Mount Horeb, Feb 11th, 1839. 31. Temple on Gebel Garabe, called Surabit el Khadim, Feb 17th, 1839. 32. [Principal court of the convent of St. Catherine] 33. [Ayun Musa] Wells of Moses - Wilderness of Tyn, Feb 12th, 1839. 34. Approach to Mount Sinai, Wady Barah, Feb 17th, 1839. 35. Quay at Suez, Feb 11th, 1839. 36. Suez [General View], Feb 11th, 1839. ** Not included in the list of plates.