Memoire sur la Nature et l'Age Respectif des Divers Appareils de Maconnerie Employes dans l'Enceinte Exterieure du Haram-Ech-Cherif de Jerusalem, Tome XXVI, 1st Partie

Paris: Imprimerie Imperiale, 1865. First Edition. Softcover. Very Good. 4to 11" - 13" tall. Auguste Salzmann. Another fine contribution in the French language to the magisterial collection of social sciences and humanities literatures in France, Memoires de l'Institut Imperial de France, Academie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, this being Tome vingt-sixième. Scarce in the trade, there being currently only a single additional copy available on-line. This essay is devoted to the ancient stone-work of and at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, as holy a site for Jews as for Muslims and Christians. Original marginalia at first page says that the essay was delivered first in lectures on the 25th of April, 1862, then twice in May on the 2nd and 9th, and then a second lecture was delivered in April of 1864 on the 7th, 12th, 21st, and 28th. The author, Louis Felicien Joseph Caignart de Saulcy (born on 19 March 1807 – 4 November 1880), a.k.a. Felicien or Felix de Saulcy, was, according to a Wikipedia entry about him, "a French numismatist, Orientalist, and archaeologist." The text-block measures 8" x 10" wide and tall, respectively, paginates to [1], 2-81 pp., disbound from a larger volume, comprised of a number of not-bound-together signatures but that fit tightly onto one another, suitable for an easy rebind. Printed on a soft rag paper, being clean, unmarked of interior and remarkably free of foxing or soiling. All 11 original folding leaves present, comprised of duotone lithophotographic plates. Original images by Auguste Salzmann. In duotone, each plate measuring 14 1/4" wide by 10" tall, with tight margins, each bearing the imprimatur of Lemercier & Cie, all quite lovely, each bottom right-hand corner saying "Procede Poitivin," denoting their production by the uber-influential French chemist-civil engineer-photographer Alphonse Louis Poitevin (1819 – 1882) who discovered, says a Wikipedia entry about him, "the light–sensitive properties of bichromated gelatin and [who] invented both the photolithography and collotype processes . . . ," thus facilitating greater if not also mass production of photographs. Each plate is titled at top "Haram Ech-Cherif," and are titled at bottom-centre as follows: 1) "Baie en Balcon au Dessus du Cedron" (Balcony Bay Above Cedron"); 2) "Angle Sud-Est du Haram" (Southeast Corner of the Haram); 3) "Moulure Judaique en Place, a la Triple-Porte" (Judaic Molding in Place, at the Triple Door); 4) "Fouilles au Pied de la Triple Porte" (Excavations at the Foot of the Triple Gate); 5) "Mur de Manasses" (Manasses Wall); 6) "Heit-El-Morharby, Sanctuaire des Juifs" (Heit-El-Morharby, Sanctuary of the Jews); 7) "Arche Ruinee du Pont du Xystus" (Ruined Arch of the Xystus Bridge); 8) "Interieur du Haram-Ech-Cherif, Base de la Tour Antonia" (Interior of Haram-Ech-Cherif, Base of the Antonia Tower); 9) Porte Doree A l'Interieur du Haram Ech-Sharif" (Golden Door Inside Haram Ech-Sharif) (title is severed horizontally); 10) Porte Doree A l'Interieur du Haram Ech-Sharif" (Golden Door Inside Haram Ech-Sharif); 11) "Porte Sous El-Aksa" (Door Under El-Aksa). Overall, a lovely item in scarce supply, with original and quite striking illustrations. No O.C.L.C. libraries currently hold copies.Member, I.O.B.A., C.B.A., and adherent to the highest ethical standards. Additional postage may be required for oversize or especially heavy volumes, and for sets.