Souvenir du Caire
Préziosi, (Count Amadeo)
Paris. (Lemercier). 1862
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First edition and presentation copy of Préziosi's fine colour plates of Cairene life and costume.
Préziosi was a well-known commercial artist from Malta, resident in Constantinople for many years, and at least as early as 1842. In 1843 or 1844 Robert Curzon commissioned the drawings known as the Curzon Album (now in the British Museum) from him, and his studio was mentioned in Murray's guidebooks for 1854 and for 1871. By that time he had become an institution in the city, and a description of his studio is to be found in Russell's 'Diary in the East' of 1869. He produced views of the city, and genre and costume drawings, mostly for purchase by tourists. This album represents scenes observed by Préziosi on his visit to Egypt undertaken in 1862. The photographic portrait with Préziosi's signature is not-called for (it is not present in the Blackmer or Colas copies) and marks this copy as a presentation copy.
[Blackmer 1352; Colas 2424].
Préziosi was a well-known commercial artist from Malta, resident in Constantinople for many years, and at least as early as 1842. In 1843 or 1844 Robert Curzon commissioned the drawings known as the Curzon Album (now in the British Museum) from him, and his studio was mentioned in Murray's guidebooks for 1854 and for 1871. By that time he had become an institution in the city, and a description of his studio is to be found in Russell's 'Diary in the East' of 1869. He produced views of the city, and genre and costume drawings, mostly for purchase by tourists. This album represents scenes observed by Préziosi on his visit to Egypt undertaken in 1862. The photographic portrait with Préziosi's signature is not-called for (it is not present in the Blackmer or Colas copies) and marks this copy as a presentation copy.
[Blackmer 1352; Colas 2424].
Folio. Lithograph title with dedication to 'son compagne de voyage' H. C. du Bois, leaf with mounted photographic portrait of Préziosi signed by him in pencil, 20 mounted chromolithograph plates, final leaf with list of plates. Original publisher's green buckram with blindstamped decoration, Arabic title gilt 'Al-masr' (Egypt) to upper board, new green calf spine with gilt title.
#33097
