Histoire de l'Egypte sous le gouvernement de Mohammed-Aly, ou recit des Evenements Politiques et Militaires qui ont eu lieu depuis le Depart des Francais jusqu'en 1823. by MENGIN, Felix - 1823

Paris:: Arthus Bertrand, 1823., 1823. Two text volumes (octavo) and atlas (folio). [i-iv], [i-iv (dedication)], [v]-li, [1], 464; [iv], 644, [2] pp. ATLAS: [IV], [V-VII] pp. 12 lithographed plates by C. Motte (including the folding plan of the new canal of Alexandria (which is hand-colored) and the folding, double-page map of Arabia & Nedjd), table of commerce between Egypt and Europe, errata; occasional foxing. Bindings: TEXT VOLUMES: with the original printed front wrappers on olive-green paper (the back and spine renewed to match); ATLAS: Half calf backed marbled boards, calf tips, for the Signet Library [Society of Writers to the Signet]; spine and tips renewed to match. Text volumes are partly unopened, untrimmed. Within new custom-made drop-back morocco and cloth case, gilt spine titles. Very attractive copy. First edition. This is a marvelous copy with the original printed wrappers preserved on the untrimmed text block, with the folio atlas containing the 12 lithographic plates. There are two formats issued: colored or uncolored. This is the uncolored version. The ATLAS volume is difficult to find with the text volumes. This is a complete set. WITH THE PLAN OF THE ALEXANDRIAN CANAL IN HAND-COLORED STATE. / The publisher's notice states: "Muhammad-Aly created a new era for Egypt; his bold enterprises, military skills, and administrative views set him apart from the ordinary Muslim princes and gave him an honorable place in history. But the events that brought him to power are almost entirely unknown in Europe, and all the notions that have been collected are confined to partial, confused and mostly unfaithful newspaper reports. The account of these events is all the more interesting in that we see in the foreground several characters who played a major role at the time of the French expedition. Ibrahym-Bey, the Elfy, Osman-Bey Bardissy, whose names are so intimately linked to the history of our memorable campaigns, reappear on the scene with no less brilliance." [Translated]. / The work, Volume I, opens with a dedication to M. Le Vicomte de Chateaubriand (1768-1848), Minister of Foreign Affairs, a note from the publisher, Arthus Bertrand, and an historical introduction by Joseph E?lie Agoub (1795-1832). The work of Mengin, himself a merchant and resident of Cairo, compiled an extensive analysis of the trade conducted between Egypt and the Arabian-Syrian peninsula, with European buyers. Edme Francois Jomard, of the "Institute," contributed a biography of Murad Bey (c.1750-1801), in the appendix. He was cavalry commander and joint ruler of Egypt with Ibrahim Bey. He reputation depicts him as cruel and a courageous soldier. He died of the bubonic plague. Volume II, contains a lengthy description of the history and economic activity in Egypt at the time. Described is the war between Egypt and tribes of Najd. In the appendix as a history of the Wahhabi. / "M. Felix Mengin landed in Egypt with the French expedition under Bonaparte. He remained in Cairo for 20 years after the country was evacuated by his countrymen, where in collected much valuable information respecting the internal administration of Egypt and the Wahabys. His account of this Mahometan sect is derived from the grandson of Ebn-Abdul-Wahab, its founder." [Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1842]. / "In addition to its significance in the wider French Revolutionary Wars, the campaign had a powerful impact on the Ottoman Empire in general and the Arab world in particular. The invasion demonstrated the military, technological, and organizational superiority of the Western European powers to the Middle East, leading to profound social changes in the region. The invasion introduced Western inventions, such as the printing press, and ideas, such as liberalism and incipient nationalism, to the Middle East, eventually leading to the establishment of Egyptian independence and modernization under Muhammad Ali Pasha in the first half of the 19th century and eventually the Nahda, or Arab Renaissance." [Wikip. on the French-Napoleonic Wars and their effect in the Middle East]. / ATLAS plates (including that of Abdullah ibn Saud (17??-1818): 1) Portrait de Mohammed-Aly, vice-roi d'Egypte, d'apres un dessin de M. Le Conte de Forbin. 2) Mourad-Bey, Chef des Mamlouks. 3) Abdallah-ebn-Souhoud, Chef de Wahabys. 4) Puits a roue du pays de Nedjd. 5) Vue du palais et du serail de Mohammed-Aly, a Alexandrie. 6) Le Roi de Sennar triturant du maïs. 7) Une fille de Sennar donnant audience a ses ministres. 8) Femme Arabe de la tribu des Ababdeh. 9) Vue du palais de Mohammed-Aly, sur la place de L'Ezbekyeh, au Kaire, prise a l'epoque de l'inondation. 10) Plan du nouveau canal d Alexandrie, dit Mahmoudyeh, dresse par M. Coste, architecte de Mohammed-Aly. 11) - La Sainte famille se reposant sous un Sycomore a Matharyeh. 12) Carte Geographique du pays de Nedjd (gravee). 13) Tableau du commerce de l'Egypte avec Europe, sure une feuille in-folio, de six et sept colonnes. / Felix Mengin (fl.1798-1839) was a French merchant trader, once French consul and writer in Cairo. He came to Egypt with Napoleon Bonaparte's mission. When Francois-Rene, vicomte de Chateaubriand visited Cairo in 1806 Mengin received him as his guest. He wrote several books about the history of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries including a History of Egypt in era of Mohammed Ali Pasha (this work). In 1839 he issued a sequel to that 1823 work, Histoire sommaire de l'Egypte sous le gouvernement de Mohammed Ali: depuis 1823 a l'an 1838. [Paris]. REFERENCES: Macro, Bibliography of the Arabian Peninsula, 1577. Atabey 802 (without the Atlas). Ibrahim-Hilmy II, 30. Michael Cook. On the Origins of Wahhabism. In: Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, vol. 2, no. 2 (July 1992), pp. 191-202. Extra Postage will be required.