Silhouette of Antiquity: The Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt, 1801

€ 340

One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.

Date: 1801
Sheet size: 20 × 26.5 cm (7.9 × 10.4 in)
Condition: Good
Reference: BG-13597-23

Condition

Good. Some soiling around the edges due to handling. This is not a reproduction but an original engraving of over 200 years old. Aged paper with a slightly warm, yellowish-brown hue. Study the image carefully.

About this sheet

This engraving presents a profile view of the Sphinx, capturing its grandeur alongside the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. It is a testament to the ancient civilization's architectural prowess and has intrigued explorers, historians, and travelers for centuries. The scene includes figures ascending a ladder to the Sphinx's head, emphasizing the scale and the ongoing human interaction with these ancient wonders.
This is a circa 1801 copperplate engraving from George Alexander Cooke's "Universal Geography" .

The print is part of George Alexander Cooke's comprehensive work "A Modern and Authentic System of Universal Geography." This book was a significant compilation of geographical knowledge during the late 18th century, offering descriptions and accounts of various parts of the world, influenced by the age of exploration. It includes narratives of famed explorers like Captain James Cook and Ferdinand Magellan, detailing their discoveries and journeys that expanded the European understanding of the globe. Cooke's work served as both a chronicle and reference for the territories and cultures encountered by these voyagers.