Travels in Upper and Lower Egypt, undertaken by order of the old government of France. Illustrated by engravings, consisting of portaits, views, plans, antiquities, plants, animals... Translated from the French.
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London, J. Debrett, 1800. 4to (267 x 200mm). pp. xl, 730, (12), 1, with frontispiece portrait of the author, 1 folded engraved map of Egypt by Danville (540 x 320mm) and 27 engraved plates. Contemporary calf, rebacked preserving the old spine.
First English 4to edition. Sonnini (1751-1812) was a French natural historian and traveller. "Sonnini set out with baron de Tott's expedition in 1777. On arrival at Alexandria he found orders to explore Egypt from Louis XVI awaiting him. This he proceded to do, going on to Turkey, Greece, Crete and the Archipelago... He returned to Manoncourt in 1780 where he cultivated many new vegatables and herbs, his interest in natural history is evident from the number of plates in the above work showing plants and fish; indeed Sonnini collaborated with Buffon on an edition of the latter's works. (Blackmer, Sotheby's, 1006). 3 plates show fish. Slightly spotted.
Hage Chahine, Guide du livres orientaliste, Levant, 4565