ROBERTS, David (1796-1864). The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt, and Nubia. London: Day & Son, 1855-1856.

First quarto edition, rare with contemporary hand-coloring, of Robert's famous visual account of the Holy Land and the Near East. In 1838, inspired by his sense of artistic adventure, Roberts made plans for a journey to the Near East. He departed in August 1839 for Alexandria and spent the remainder of the year in Cairo visiting the major tombs and sites of Egypt. The following February he journeyed to the Holy Land, making stops in Suez, Mount Sinai and Petra. He spent time in Gaza before entering Jerusalem and concluded his tour by spending several months visiting the biblical sites of the Holy Land. The first edition was originally issued in 41 large folio parts over 7 years—literally a monumental publication, the size and weight of which garnered more than a few complaints.

For this elegant quarto set of Roberts's work, the lithographed plates were reduced by photography, allowing for a greater ease of use than the enormous folio edition. In this set, the tinted plates have been finished with hand-coloring, more closely imitating the deluxe coloring of the folios. Howard Radclyffe, former director of Bernard Quaritch Ltd. who handled this copy in the previous century, speculated that the few extant hand-colored examples of this work may have been commissioned by subscribers who preferred the smaller size. Abbey Travel 388; Blackmer 1432.

Six volumes in three, quarto (291 x 200mm). 250 tinted lithograph plates finished with hand-coloring, including 6 vignette titles, by Louis Hache after original drawings by Roberts with original tissue guards (scattered dampstains affecting margins of some plates, closed marginal tear to portrait in vol. 1). Contemporary blue gilt stamped morocco, gilt emblem with "Deus Vult" stamped on boards, gilt-turn ins, all edges gilt (some light rubbing to extremities). An exceptional copy of this great work.