Malerische Ansichten aus dem Orient

A rare, complete, hand-coloured copy, as issued, of the magnificent, large, illustrations of the Holy Land, Middle East and Malta.

Mayr accompanied Archduke Maximilian of Bavaria on his travels through Egypt, Syria, and Palestine in 1838. This is a splendid collection of engravings of the highest artistic quality. A large section of the work is devoted to the Nubian part of Maximilian's journey. Illustrations depict the customs of the inhabitants of the area who are described as 'robust and handsome, with a graceful carriage, armed with a spear and a shield made out of crocodile skin'. The temples of Abu Simbel and the other lesser temples are also depicted. The illustrations of Gerf Hussein are particularly interesting, not only are they the first depictions of the site but they are now also the best depiction of it as it has been submerged as a result of the Aswan dam project. (See Egypt Lost and Found).

The illustrations show ancient monuments as well as ordinary life, including views of street life in Cairo, various views of Bethlehem, Nazareth and Jerusalem, Karnak, and Luxor; the Sphinx and Great Pyramids of Giza, and many others, including Alexandria, Malta, etc., etc.