A rich record of two empires at their peak

The London antiquarian map and book dealer Daniel Crouch has a remarkable £500,000 centrepiece for his Maastricht stand, where the European Fine Art Fair runs until March 20. The 34-volume first edition of the Description de l’Égypte, (1809 to 1828), with 844 large engravings, many in colour, has been described as one of the greatest achievements of French publishing, and this example is in perfect condition, contained in its custom-built bookcase and accompanied by archival material relating to its first owner. The publication and archive tell us much about the politics of Restoration France, a period with notable resonances today.