The Gods of the Egyptians by E.A. Wallis Budge
Publisher: 1904 Methuen & Co; London First Print First Edition
First printing of the First edition of E. A. Wallis Budge’s comprehensive guide to the mythology of ancient Egypt. This first printing was the only one issued with the 98 colored plates and 131 illustration in the text. All subsequent issues did not include the color plates that are included in this first printing. Two large volumes (large 8vo size, dim: 18 x 26 cm) original blind-stamped red cloth, gilt titles and tooling to the spine.
Condition: Original red blind stamped boards, elaborate tooling to spine, there are flaws to these editions. Volume 1 in particular has a spine that has been obviously restored, small chips to the cloth at joints, the pages themselves are clean with absolutely no markings, the binding is still tight on both volumes although the hinge on Vol 1 has been neatly re-enforced, both volumes have a removed bookplate, given the cleanliness of the pages these are great candidates for fine binding. Besides the aesthetic flaws these two rare editions are considered the most sought after of Wallis Budge publications, notably for containing all of the original color plates only included in this first printing.