H.N. ZOOLOGIE - COQUILLES PLATE 14: VULSELLES, HUITRES, CAMES, ARROSOIRS shell print 1821 - 1830

Shells of Egypt

"Description de l'Égypte, ou, Recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l'expédition de l'armée française"

This outstanding rare elephant folio engraving of a large selection of shells, with fine professional hand colouring, is from the Natural History section of the second “Royal/Panckoucke” 1821-1830 Paris edition, of the monumental 23 volume:

“Description of Egypt, or collection of the observations and researches which were made in Egypt during the expedition of the French army, published by the orders of his majesty the Emperor Napoleon the Great. Paris 1809-22.”

After the failure of Napoleon’s 1798 military campaign to conquer Egypt, his top scientists, engineers and artists who had followed his troops from France, remained to study Egyptian culture and its history.

The results were truly spectacular. Ancient Egypt was discovered, modern Egypt was carefully and methodically scrutinised, and everything was recorded in meticulous detail so the outside world could view its rare treasures.

These gorgeous shell plates, all carrying the “Egypte ancienne et moderne” Sphinx/Obelisk watermark from the first edition, were produced by the renowned zoologist, Jules-César Savigny (1777-1851).