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Scenes in Ethiopia. Designed from Nature, by Johann Martin Bernatz, Artist to the British Mission to the Court of Shoa. With descriptions of the plates and extracts from a journal of travel in that country. Vol. I: The Lowlands of Danakil. Vol. II: The Highlands of Shoa (complete)

BERNATZ Johann Martin

Item #M9364

Extremely rare. 2 volumes in 1. Bradbury and Evans, printers extraordinary to the Queen, London, 1852. First edition. Large oblong folio (43 x 55 cm). (2) (Description of lithographed title pages [the one for vol.2 also bound in here]), (1) (list of plates), (2) Dedication Leaves, (1) (Preface), pp. 9, 23, (1) (list of plates), 23 pp. With 48 (mostly) colour tinted lithographed plates (1 double-page, which is counted as 2 plates), 2 lithographed title pages and 1 lithographed map. Red, very decorative linen band of the time with artificial pearls and relief structure as well as gold stamping on the front cover, some plates very slightly brown stained in the white edge, a great example of this rare work. This is the most important 19th-century colour-plate book on Ethiopia, unsurpassed with its large number of magnificient illustrations! Vol. I bears the title "The Lowlands of Danakil", vol. II is titled: "The Highlands of Shoa". Bernatz (1807-1878) participated in the scientific expedition to Abyssinia sent out and financed by the British-Indian government as a draftsman. The expedition was led by W.C. Harris. The beautiful illustrations which Bernatz created for this magnificient work were the basis for his fame and from then on he was considered THE authority on exotic landscape painting. Many books on African exploration that were published thereafter included one or more illustrations by Bernatz, e.g. Barth's or Heuglin's. – Kainbacher 44 (german Ed.); Engelmann I, 172; Gay 2586 Language: English. Relevant subjects: Egypt: Nubia & Africa.

Language: English.

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