A History Of Egypt
Volume 2
By Dr Henry Brugsch-Bey
Published by John Murray: London 1881 2nd Edition
In Presentation Leather & Gilt Bindings With Marbled Endpapers
"Published by John Murray of London in 1881, this is Volume II of the second edition of Dr Henry Brugsch-Bey's A History of Egypt Under the Pharaohs, Derived Entirely from the Monuments, with an added discourse on the Exodus of the Israelites. Translated and edited from the German by Philip Smith, following the unfinished translation of Henry Danby Seymour, the edition incorporates a new preface, additions and original notes by the author. Its emphasis on evidence preserved in ancient monuments and inscriptions makes it a substantial example of nineteenth-century scholarship on Egyptian history. Offered here is the second volume only of the original two-volume work.
Opening with the Nineteenth Dynasty and the people of the Khita, or Hittites, this volume examines the era of Ramses I, Seti I and Ramses II, exploring royal succession, military campaigns, international relations and the construction of Egypt's great temples. The narrative continues through the later dynasties, including the Ethiopian rulers and Persian domination, towards the final decline of the kingdom of the pharaohs. Brugsch draws upon inscriptions and monumental records to reconstruct the actions of rulers, priests, officials and neighbouring peoples, bringing political history into close association with the surviving physical evidence of ancient civilisation.
The work also considers the relationship between Egyptian history and the biblical account of the Exodus, reflecting a subject of considerable scholarly interest during the Victorian period. Its detailed discussions preserve the interpretations, chronology and historical debates of the time, giving the volume interest both as a history of ancient Egypt and as a record of the development of Egyptological research. Illustrated material visible in this copy includes a plan of the temple of Seti I and Ramses II at Abydos and a substantial folding genealogical table relating to members of the Thirteenth Dynasty, complementing the text's attention to architecture, royal families and historical succession.
This copy is attractively bound in full tan leather in presentation style, with gilt borders and corner ornaments to the boards, raised spine bands, richly gilt-decorated compartments and a contrasting gilt-lettered title label. Gilt page edges, decorative tooling to the board edges and inner borders, and richly coloured marbled endpapers complete the binding. The leather shows scattered dark marks, surface rubbing and wear around the extremities, while the photographed pages display age toning and occasional spotting. The detached author and volume spine label is retained within the book, as shown. An appealing Victorian leather-bound volume for collectors of Egyptology, ancient history and decorative antiquarian bindings."
Light wear to covers. Spine label section has detached and sits loose with book as shown. No inscriptions. All foldouts present as called for. A stunning, presentation copy in very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
