Antique Plan of Egyptian Catacombs Alexandria Necropolis Latomia, 1776
€ 240
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1776
Mapmaker / artist
Unknown engraver after Richard Pococke, Netherlands 1776
Technique
Engraving
Sheet size
27.3 × 25 cm (10.7 × 9.8 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-14102-1
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Condition
Very good condition overall. Paper shows general age-related toning. Some light creases and small spots in the margins, not affecting the printed image. Plate mark clearly visible. Blank on verso. Folding lines as issued.
About this sheet
Antique Plan of Egyptian Catacombs Alexandria Necropolis Latomia 1776
This original 18th-century engraving presents a detailed architectural plan of several catacombs and ruins in and around Alexandria, Egypt, as described by the English traveler Richard Pococke. It includes diagrams of Roman underground structures, identified as necropolis, castrum, and the Latomia quarry island. The layout is labeled with measurements and structural features, showing subterranean chambers, passageways, and enclosures.
The engraving is plate number V from the first part of the Dutch edition of Pococke's work titled Beschryving van het Oosten en van eenige andere landen. The Dutch text translates to Description of the East and Some Other Lands, and this specific section focuses on Egypt. The edition was translated from English and expanded with notes by Ernst Willem Cramerus. It includes a foreword by Rutger Schutte, a preacher in Amsterdam.
This edition was printed in 1776 in Utrecht by G T and A van Paddenburg, in Rotterdam by J Bosch and R Arrenberg, and in Amsterdam by M de Bruyn. Pococke's work is considered a milestone in early modern travel literature, offering both descriptive and scholarly observations on the Middle East. His documentation of ruins, tombs, and historical sites provided valuable information for later archaeologists and historians.
The plan reflects an 18th-century European understanding of ancient Egyptian and Roman funerary architecture, making it not only an artistic print but also a document of historical scholarship.
Condition report: Very good condition overall. Paper shows general age-related toning. Some light creases and small spots in the margins, not affecting the printed image. Plate mark clearly visible. Blank on verso. Folding lines as issued.
Framing tips: This architectural engraving would look best in a black, dark brown, or antiqued gold frame. A wide ivory or soft cream-colored mat will enhance the classical subject and bring out the fine linework. It suits display in a study, library, or a wall dedicated to exploration and antiquity.
