Abstract: While Maxime Du Camp is dedicated to a literary career, he is also a pioneer in the history of photography. First amateur to obtain a free mission from the Ministère de l’Instruction publique, he brings an important collection of calotypes back from his journey to the East. He benefits from a new development in photography, photographic printing, and Égypte, Nubie, Palestine et Syrie concretizes the beginnings of photography publishing, earning him the most exalted titles.