Identity area
Reference code
Linant de Bellefonds MSS
Title
Date(s)
- 1818-1826 (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent and medium
1 box, 2 negative boxes, and 1 package
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
French geographer, explorer, artist, and engineer. Born, Lorient 1799. Died, Cairo 1883. Initially trained with the intention of serving in the Navy, and after passing the necessary exam in 1814, he was sent to help with the charting and surveying of the Canadian and USA coastlines in 1815. He then accompanied A. Come de Forbin on a expedition to the Near East, 1817. This led in 1817 to a opportunity to make maps and drawings in Egypt required for various publications. Whilst in Cairo, he was engaged by Muhammad Ali. Then from 1819-22 he was employed by W. Bankes to accompany him as a draughtsman on several expeditions which ventured as south as Meroe, Musauwarat el-Sofra and Naga, giving him the distinction of being the first European to see these sites. He travelled even further south for the Association for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior Parts of Africa. Assisted J. F. Champollion in 1828. Published several maps of Egypt. Later he used his skills for the planning of irrigation projects and was heavily involved with the construction of the Suez Canal.
Archival history
(1) Typescripts of diary. The original diary is part of the estate of W. J. Bankes, now in the possession of the National Trust.
(2) Negatives and prints made for the Griffith Institute from the Linant de Bellefonds MSS, in Paris, Musée du Louvre.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
(1) Transcript made by the Griffith Institute from the diary, which was lent to the Institute along with the Bankes MSS between 1939-61.
(2) The negatives and prints were made by the Musée du Louvre, Paris.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
- 3 copies (1 typescript and two carbon copies) of a transcript made from Linant de Bellefonds' diary (1821-1822).
- Titled: "Journal d'un Voyage en Ethiopie dans les Annees 1821 & 1822."
- 279 typescript pages
- Not Griffith Institute copyright. See below for details.
- 14 glass plate negatives, two sizes, with a set of modern prints made from the larger-sized negatives (1818-1826). Not Griffith Institute copyright. Negatives made from the originals in the Louvre.
- The negatives are copies of the following MSS:
- B.15 (parts A and B)
- Triple statue (same as following), not identified, with texts
- B.26
- Maison du Melek d'Argos
- B.30
- Gebel Barkal. View of Pyramid field (North and South groups)
- TopBib vii.208, 203
- = Bankes MSS XV.C.7
- B.32
- Gebel Barkal. Temple B.300. View of interior
- TopBib vii.209
- = Bankes MSS XV.C.2
- B.32 bis
- Gebel Barkal. Great Temple B.500. Sketch, general view showing granite stand of Taharqa, with Nile-gods binding sma-symbol etc.
- TopBib vii.216A & 209(43)
- B.36
- Gebel Barkal. Great Temple B.500. Inner Court. Meroitic battle scene, including man on horseback and archer
- TopBib vii.219(30)
- = Bankes MSS XV.A.28
- B.38 bis
- Gebel Barkal. Temple B.700. Pylon (destroyed). West wing, outer face, Senkamanisken smites captives before Amun-Re
- TopBib vii.214
- = Bankes MSS XV.C.8 [middle]
- B.45
- Gebel Barkal. Temple B.300. Third Hall. View
- TopBib vii.209
- B.62
- Musauwarat el-Sofra. Great Temple. Views
- TopBib vii.264
- = Bankes MSS XVII.B.15
- B.68
- Musauwarat el-Sofra. South-East Temple. Interior. North-East row of columns. Column 2, three registers
- TopBib vii.267
- = Bankes MSS XVII.B.6
- B.69
- Musauwarat el-Sofra. South-East Temple. Interior. North-East row of columns. Column 1, two registers
- TopBib vii.265
- = Bankes MSS XVII.B.5
- B.73
- Naga'. General view
- TopBib vii.267
- B.105
- Naga'. Lion Temple of Apedemak. Exterior. King, Queen and Prince, before Isis holding captives, Mut, Hathor and Satis
- TopBib vii.269(21)-(22)
- = Bankes MSS XVII.C.7-8
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Kept as received.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Property of the Griffith Institute. No restrictions. Consultation only.
Conditions governing reproduction
(1) Diary, copyright the National Trust.
(2) Negatives and prints, copyright Musée du Louvre, Paris.
Language of material
- French
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
No problems.
Finding aids
- Typewritten catalogue for Linant de Bellefonds MSS in the Louvre, with identifications and descriptions relevant to the TopBib.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
- The original diary is at Kingston Lacy, Dorset. The National Trust now owns the whole estate.
- The negatives and prints are made from originals in Paris, Musée du Louvre.
Existence and location of copies
- The material in the GI Archive are copies made from originals in other collections.
- Another copy of the diary in Musée du Louvre, Paris.
Related units of description
Publication note
- Not published.
Notes area
Note
- The transcription and typing of the diary were undertaken by Miss D. M. Vaughan, Griffith Institute Assistant, in 1947. Information from the Griffith Institute Committee minutes for the meeting of 23-01-1947.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Digital object metadata
Filename
Linantdebellefondstypescript.jpg
Latitude
Longitude
Media type
Image
Mime-type
image/jpeg