Account of the funeral of General Kléber in the first newspaper published in the Arab world

Institut d’Égypte.

Courier de l’Egypte. N.° 72. Le 9 messidor, VIII.^e année de la République.

Au Kaire, de l’Imprimerie nationale, [June 28, 1800].

4°. 4 pp. 

Account of the funeral of General Jean-Baptiste Kléber, printed in issue 72 of the Courier de l’Égypte, the first newspaper published in the Arab world. General Kléber, the leader of the French occupation forces in Egypt, was assassinated on June 14, 1800, by Sulaymān al-Ḥalabī, a student from Ottoman Syria who was studying in Cairo during the French invasion. The funeral was held in Cairo on June 17, 1800. The previous issue of the Courier, no. 71, was published on June 16 and includes an article about Kléber’s death written by his successor, General Menou.

The Courier de l’Égypte (first four issues are spelled “Courrier”) was a newspaper established by Napoleon Bonaparte during his Egyptian campaign, intended primarily for the French Army of the Orient. It was established by the Institut d’Égypte and respectively directed by Fourier, Costaz, and Desgenettes. It played a crucial role in maintaining the morale of French troops and promoting propaganda and marked the beginning of modern and journalism in the country and the wider Arab region. Published from August 1798 until June 1801, the Courier provided updates on military operations, orders from Napoleon and his generals, and news from France. The paper’s controlled narrative helped maintain Napoleon’s reputation, even after setbacks in the campaign, ultimately aiding his rise to power as First Consul. The publication’s final issue documented the evacuation of French troops from Egypt.

Condition: untrimmed, in very good condition.