ROBERTS, David. The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia.
London: F.G.Moon, 1842-1849.

First Edition, 6 volumes, folio, (610 x 440mm.), 6 lithographed titles with vignettes and 241 lithographed plates, TITLES AND PLATES FINELY HAND-COLOURED AND MOUNTED ON CARD, plain portrait of David Roberts on India paper and 2 engraved maps, plates and text on linen guards throughout, contemporary  publisher's half morocco, Gilt Central Panel of Egyptian or Holy Land Scene with Gilt Titles on all upper covers, spines elaborately gilt in compartments, edges gilt.
                
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A VERY FINE SET OF THE SUBSCRIBERS' EDITION, WITH EXCEPTIONALLY FRESH AND VIVID ORIGINAL HAND-COLOURING.

David Roberts, R.A. (1796-1864), born at Stockbridge near Edinburgh became assistant scene-painter at the Pantheon theatre, moving on to Drury Lane theatre in London in 1821,where he worked with Clarkson Stanfield.  Both artists exhibited at the Society of British Artists, Royal Academy and British Institution, and by 1830 Roberts was firmly established as a topographical artist and was able to give up his theatre work. In these early years he toured the Continent and visited Spain in 1832-33.In August 1839 he departed for Alexandria and spent the remaining part of the year in Cairo visiting the numerous sites. In February of the following year he set out across the desert for the Holy Land by way of Suez, Mount Sinai and Petra arriving at Gaza, and then on to Jerusalem, concluding his tour by spending several months visiting the biblical sites of the Holy Land, finally returning to England. The drawings of his tour were superbly lithographed by Louis Haghe and issued in 41 parts over 7 years in 3 states tinted,tinted proofs and coloured and mounted on card.

This is the finest illustrated work ever produced on the Near East with powerful images of Baalbec, Petra, Egypt and the Holy Land demonstrating Roberts'skilful draughtsmanship and use of dramatic perspective.
Major Abbey considered this work to be "...one of the most important and elaborate ventures of nineteenth-century publishing, and....the apotheosis of the tinted lithograph.
Abbey, Travel 272 and 385;Tooley401-2; Blackmer 1432.