Royal Tombs in the Valley of the Kings, Thebes – Antique View, Egypt 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-14102-19
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
Good condition. Light age toning, minor edge wear at the right margin. Sharp plate impression and wide margins. Folding line as issued - is faint and does not affect the image. Verso blank.
About this sheet
This atmospheric 1776 engraving offers a rare early European depiction of the Valley of the Kings near Thebes (modern-day Luxor), the legendary burial site of many pharaohs of Egypt’s New Kingdom. Numbered Plate XXX, the image is from the Dutch edition of Richard Pococke’s travel account, one of the earliest systematic European explorations of the region.
The scene is shown from a dramatic perspective, looking into the rugged cliffs of the valley. A winding path leads the viewer’s eye through a narrow gorge surrounded by steep rock walls. Along this route are a series of entrances to rock-cut tombs, some with architectural façades and decorative details visible. Human figures, camels, and attendants animate the composition, illustrating both the archaeological interest and the logistical challenges of exploration in 18th-century Egypt.
In the background, a mountain rises over the horizon, crowned by additional tombs carved into the stone. The foreground features labeled elements such as entrances, travelers, and local guides, consistent with Pococke’s habit of annotating archaeological features during his expeditions.
The Dutch caption below reads, "De Begravenplaatsen der Koningen te Thebe," which translates to "The burial places of the kings at Thebes." This site is known today as the Valley of the Kings, where tombs of famous pharaohs such as Tutankhamun, Seti I, and Ramses II have been discovered.
This engraving is from Beschryving van het Oosten en van eenige andere landen (Description of the East and Some Other Lands), translated by Ernst Willem Cramerus and published in Utrecht, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam in 1776. Pococke’s work played a key role in introducing European readers to the scale and significance of Egypt’s royal necropolises.
Condition report: Good condition. Light age toning, minor edge wear at the right margin. Sharp plate impression and wide margins. Folding line as issued - is faint and does not affect the image. Verso blank.
Framing tips: Best presented in a black or deep brown frame with a warm ivory or sand-colored mat to enhance the topographical depth. A striking piece for a collection focused on ancient Egypt, early archaeology, or travel illustration.
