Three volumes. Text Volumes, I-II: Royal octavo. Pp. xxiii, 68; 215; 324. With some figures and maps, one double-page and printed in red and black. III: Plates Volume: Folio. (ii), Total of 40 plates comprising of 27 autographed plates plus 13 collotype photographic plates. Includes 4 large folding plates. Hardcover, uniformly bound in the original publisher's light-blue full cloth, overall faded, shelf number in pencil at corner of each cover. In a very good condition, excellent interiors. ~ First edition. Extremely rare complete set of the "deluxe" edition which comes with the original 13 collotypes in the Plate Volume. It has been noted that practically the entire first edition of this work had the Plate Volume bound with only the autographic plates of transcription, made by Fairman, without the photographic plates of the papyrus itself. Although Gardiner mentions that at the eve of going to the printer "the collotype plates have been ready for more than twenty years" there seem to be the issue of Gardiner's impatience and matters of speed of process and expense: "The thought of the expense of such a publication, alike to author and purchaser, has been the source of much vacillation." (Preface). It is therefoe that finally the option of only autographic reproduction was chosen for the main edition and a "deluxe" edition, one described as "With Extra Plates" was printed in an exceptionally small run. (For that matter see also Annual Egyptological Bibliography 107 which specifies the publication of two versions of this work with different prices). While Fairman's transcriptions are reproduced here lithographically, the original 13 collotypes provide a rare, unparalleled exquisite view of the papyrus. [Provenance:] From the library of renowned Egyptologist Prof. Dr. Joris Frans Borghouts (1939-2018) with some annotations in his neat hand. With a card "With the Author's compliments" loosely inserted.
