Detail map of Alexandria Governorate, Egypt,Cairo Governorate, Egypt,Giza Governorate, Egypt Overview map of Alexandria Governorate, Egypt,Cairo Governorate, Egypt,Giza Governorate, Egypt

A: Alexandria Governorate, Egypt, B: Cairo Governorate, Egypt, C: Giza Governorate, Egypt

Napoleon's Imprimerie Nationale, the First Printing Presses in Africa since 1516

1798 to 1799
Printed in Cairo in 1798 by Napoleon

Printed in Cairo in 1798 by Napoleon's Imprimerie Nationale, a proclamation in Arabic about the establishment of a new diwan (council). This was sold at Sotheby's London for 5000 GBP on July 28, 2020.

During his Egyptian Campaign Napoleon Bonaparte established printing presses (Imprimerie Nationale) at Alexandria, Cairo, and Giza (Gizah) from 1798 to 1789. These were probably the first presses on the continent of Africa since Samuel ben Isaac Nedivot and his son Isaac, set up the first press on the African continent in Fez, Morocco, and operated the press from 1516 to about 1526. When the French were driven out of Egypt in 1801 Napoleon's presses ceased operation.

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