Prospectus of, or contract of subscription for, the second edition of the famous and monumental Description de l'Egypte. The first edition, published by l'imprimerie impériale between 1809 and 1822, was exceedingly large, with pages measuring over a square meter. It became clear, even before the publication of all 23 volumes, that another, more practical and affordable edition was needed. The task was entrusted to the Parisian publisher C.L.F. Panckoucke. This second edition, which planned for 1000 copies, was produced between 1821 and 1829. It was printed in a smaller octavo format and therefore required more volumes. Subscribers were needed in advance to be able to finance the massive undertaking. The present subscription contract is signed by Count Emanuel of Waldstein-Wartenberg (1773-1829), who lived in Hungary at the time. This shows how widely known the work was.
In the present contract, Panckoucke states that the work would consists of 35 octavo volumes, a large atlas, and 900 engravings, all printed on beautiful paper. These engravings were reused from the first edition, but would still look as if they were new. Each plate volume would cost 10 francs and each text volume 7 francs. Subscribers would have to pay two volumes in advance, and would receive a new one every twenty days. The contract mentions that, since the plates were already engraved, the publication of the work could be finished in two and a half years. In reality, however, it would take a few years longer.
With the stamped signature of C.L.F. Panckoucke and the manuscript signature of "Emanuel Comte de Waldstein a Pesch en Hongrie", who was subscriber 294. A small portion of the upper right corner has been torn off. Otherwise in very good condition. Cf. for the second edition of "Description de l'Egypte": Blackmer 526; Brunet II, 617; Gay 1999; Graesse II, 366.