Fragmens. Essai sur les hiéroglyphes égyptiens

First edition. 14 full-page plates including two folding, numerous illustrations in the text, as well as twelve pages of tables with hieroglyphic and Chinese characters.

Beige calf binding, elaborately gilt spine, boards stamped with the arms of the Society of Writers to the Signet. Minor foxing. Spine, corners and spine-ends restored, some wear to spine and boards.

A rare copy of this abundantly illustrated treasure trove of esoteric science, serving as an initiation into the mysteries of Egypt through the study of hieroglyphics.

One of the rarest and most interesting works by Pierre Lacour, a painter, engraver and literary scholar who succeeded his father as professor and director of the Bordeaux School of Painting. Lacour is known for his studies of ancient monuments, Hebrew and ancient languages; only a year before Champollion's deciphering of hieroglyphics, Lacour claims in these pages to find passages from the Bible in Egyptian texts. His study namely suggests a hieroglyphic meaning for the name of Moses.

Provenance: arms of the Society of Writers to the Signet, association of Scottish lawyers founded in the late 16th century. Library shelf label pasted to the flyleaf.