Blowhard, Esq. writes:

Via Bauman Rare Books:

Inquisitive Western minds first glimpsed the mysteries of Egypt and the Middle East in detail through David Roberts’ folio-sized Holy Land, issued in 41 parts from 1842 to 1849 and containing 250 full-page hand-colored lithographs produced from his magnificent, on-site drawings. Roberts was the first Westerner to be granted permission to enter whichever sacred mosque or monument he desired. His images of these sacred places established what many people even today envision as the aura of Egypt and the Holy Land. “Roberts’ Holy Land has a world-wide reputation; nothing of a similar character has ever been produced that can bear a comparison with it” (Ran, 6). Louis Haghe, considered the foremost lithographer of his time, transferred the exquisitely detailed drawings to stone. …Undoubtedly the most famous of these is Plate 240, the great sphinx, still commonly reproduced in poster art.

Click on the images to enlarge.