Belzoni

Before David Roberts from England there was Giovannit Battista Belzoni from Venice. The "Great" Belzoni was a prolific Italian explorer and pioneer in Egyptian archaeology. He came to Egypt to show Muhammad Ali a hydraulic machine for irrigation in 1815. But he became famous for his paintings and written accounts of his travels throughout Egypt. I found a first edition copy of his prints and writings at a local Bauman's Rare Books and together they were selling for $25,000! So if anyone wants to get me a Birthday gift ...