Egyptian Paintings, Nina M. Davies — 1st Edition

£15.00

Egyptian Paintings, Nina M. Davies — 1st Edition

Name: Egyptian Paintings, Nina M. Davies — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4997
Price: 15.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Penguin Books Ltd, 1954

Formatting: Small 8vo, pp. 32, plus 16 colour plates.

Condition Report: Very Good. The original pictorial paper-covered boards are remarkably bright and well-preserved, defying the usual age-toning and edge-wear typical of King Penguins from this era. The binding remains completely square and tightly bound, reflecting minimal past handling, and the hinges are perfectly intact. Internally, the pages are crisp and highly legible, with only a faint whisper of intermittent spotting isolated to the preliminary leaves and endpapers, leaving the primary text block unaffected. The sixteen full-page colour plates remain vividly bright and entirely free from any oxidation or offsetting. The accompanying original dust wrapper is similarly outstanding; it remains unclipped (bearing the original 5/- price on the front flap) and vibrantly coloured, exhibiting only microscopic rubbing to the very extreme spine tips and a touch of light, isolated spotting to the inner flaps. Overall, an exceptionally sharp, highly presentable copy.

Catalogue Note: First Edition thus, published as Volume 71 in the celebrated King Penguin Books series. This volume features sixteen superb colour plates illustrating ancient Egyptian frescoes, meticulously copied in tempera by the author and artist Nina M. Davies. A pioneering Egyptologist, Davies, alongside her husband Norman de Garis Davies, produced highly accurate facsimiles of Theban tomb paintings, preserving invaluable archaeological records for institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The striking wrap-around cover and dust wrapper design were executed by Patricia Lyle, taking direct inspiration from the Egyptian motifs within.

Accompanying this copy is a charming piece of laid-in contemporary ephemera: a handwritten postcard dated 18th May 1957, sent from Thun, Switzerland, to a 'Marjorie' in London, casually discussing European travel plans and coach trips to Cornwall. While King Penguin editions are generally common on the secondary market, discovering copies that retain their fragile, unclipped original dust wrappers in such exceptionally bright condition has become increasingly scarce.

A beautifully produced volume from the iconic King Penguin series, Egyptian Paintings offers a captivating glimpse into the artistic heritage of the ancient world. Through the expert eyes and brush of Egyptologist Nina M. Davies, readers are presented with faithful, vibrant reproductions of tomb frescoes that capture the daily life, mythology, and vivid palette of antiquity. Accompanied by her scholarly yet accessible commentary, this book stands as both a mid-century publishing triumph and an enduring testament to Davies's vital role in preserving Egypt's fragile painted history.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Nina M. Davies

Book Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Art & Architecture

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 48

Book Publication Year: 1954

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Nina M. Davies

Book Series: The King Penguin Books

Country/region of manufacture: Harmondsworth, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.