Le Kaire. Vue Generale de la Ville des Tombeaux. by EGYPT - CAIRO) Dutertre (drawn by). Paris (engraved by) - Ca. 1820.

Paris.: Panckouke.. Ca. 1820.. Copper plate engraving (uncolored), plate area approximately 19 3/4 x 29 1/2 inches on sheet 28 x 43 inches. Scattered foxing heaviest in the lower left margin and scattered in the right side of the image, little paper loss to top edge (over 3 inches from plate mark). Publisher's blindstamp at top right. This large, finely engraved view is plate 61 from Volume I of the Modern State section of the monumental publication "Description de L'Egypte," which documented the research of the "savants" who accompanied Napoleon Bonaparte's ambitious expedition to Egypt (1798-1801). The full title translated into English reads "Description of Egypt, or the collection of observations and research made in Egypt during the Expedition of the French Army" hinting at the varied purposes of this foray into the Middle East. The European demand for information about Egypt, its glorious monuments and exotic culture led to the publication of two editions of the work, with engravings pulled from the same printing plates; this is from the second edition, uncolored as issued. Shown is a panoramic view of The City of Tombs. .