Detailed 1840s Nile Panoramas.

Egypt, Greece, unpublished, 1847. Various sizes, up to 10.2 x 429.4 cm. Eight original sketched panoramas, mounted on seven larger papers. = From just before photography took over, this is set of eight suites of fine, detailed drawings of landscapes along the river Nile. All in great detail: buildings (including mosques), trees, and sailing vessels are depicted. These drawings stand in a long tradition among sailors and cartographers to chart coasts and waters, but they are also of historical importance, and, if skilfully done, are, in addition, true pieces of art, as is the case here. The artist added some occasional comments in German or French. This include dates and places. The following are present: (1) A very long (over four metres!) panorama of a lengthy stretch of the Nile shore. The first 20 centimetres are hand-coloured, the rest is in black-and-white only. (2) Two views (one hand-coloured) near Esné (Esna), dated 17 Jänner [1]847. (3) One of Selseleh (Gebel al Silsila), about 100 kilometres south of Esna, dated the 23rd of the same month. (4) A view of Elephantine, at the first Nile cataract, near Aswan, another 50 kilmetres to the south, dated 20 janvier [1]847 (i.e., in French, but in - seemingly - the same hand). (5) A hand-coloured view of "mountains" (in fact low hills), near Aswan, and a longer (8.5 x 74.5 cm), folded panorama of the same, dated 20 Jänner [1]847. The use of Jänner instead of Januar in the German texts strongly suggests that this is the work of an Austrian, rather than a German or Swiss traveller. Other views show the harbour of Corfu, and, perhaps, Nafpaktos, both in Greece, and along the most obvious sea route between the former Austrian Empire (which had direct access to the Adriatic Sea) to Egypt. One leaf is signed 'Grothe'. We have not identified this person. He may be the author/artist of all items. Preserved in marbled portfolio. Some insignificant spotting, otherwise very good. A must for Nileologists.