10095.g.34

Imprint: London: Smith, Elder and Co., 65, Cornhill. M.DCCC.XLII.

Quarto, quarter leather and red buckram binding (rebound 2001-02), measuring 236 x 195 mm; the original covers, in red cloth, with title and decorative work in gilt, have been preserved and pasted down on the inner face of the upper and lower boards; pp. xii, 240; with 100 stereoscopic doubles, mounted one to a page (on verso), with lithographed caption beneath each image, and descriptive letterpress notes by Bonomi and Sharpe on facing pages. A label pasted down before the titlepage, advertises the viewer that can be used in conjunction with the photographs: 'The stereoscopes specially adapted for use with this volume, compactly folded in an elegant pocket-book form, fit for the drawing-room table, price 5s. and upwards, may be had at Messrs. Negretti and Zambra, 1, Hatton Garden, E.C.; 59, Cornhill, E.C.; and 122, Regent Street, W.'The introduction to the work defends the fidelity and economy of photography as a tool of record in the Egyptology: 'The scientific expedition sent out by Napoleon was accompanied by several artists; but their costly volumes too clearly show that the drawings received many of their last touches in Paris. Some of our English artists have also published beautiful volumes of the picturesque ruins in this land, most interesting for the draftsman; but we cannot but sometimes fancy that they have sacrificed somewhat of scientific accuracy to artistic effect. But when we look at photographic views, we are troubled by no such misgivings. Here we have all the truthfulness of nature, all the reality of the objects themselves, and, at the same time, artistic effects which leave us nothing to wish for. The following sun-pictures of the ancient ruined buildings of the Nile were made for Messrs. Negretti and Zambra by Mr. Frith, during a visit to Egypt, Nubia and Ethiopia, in the years 1859, 1860...'