First edition of an illustrated account of a British campaign in Egypt, with all the plates coloured by hand, posthumously published from the memoirs of the French count Louis-Pantaléon de Noé (1728-1816). De Noè had sailed for India when his position became insecure under the Directoire. He first describes his journey to India on the Cuffnells and gives a geographical description of the region. He also gives a detailed description of the Indian/British army, naming the various regiments and showing its soldiers and their uniforms in the coloured plates. In 1798 Napoleon Bonaparte led a campaign to Egypt and Syria with his Armée d'Orient, hoping to conquer the region and weaken British power. In the third chapter, De Noé describes the British measures to prevent French success. After some defeats, the British despatched a large force from India to Egypt in 1800, and De Noé joined it. From Mumbai they sailed to the Red Sea, went ashore at Mecca, and ended up in "Kosseir" (El Quseir), where they had to prepare themselves for a journey across the desert. De Noé describes this journey and the people they encounter, stopping at Qina and Girga before reaching Cairo. He describes the city and the Gizeh pyramids before continuing to Alexandria. He gives a description of the Ottomans, Bedouins and Mamluks, all shown in the plates. The last two chapters deal mostly with the negotiations between the English and the Ottomans to impede the French.
With the bookplate of Dr. Jacob Philippe Le Dru on the paste-down. Slightly foxed and a few plates slightly browned. Binding somewhat rubbed. Overall in very good condition. Beaucour, La découverte de l'Égypte (1997), p. 263; Collas 2208; Lipperheide 1584.