Voyage de Dalmatie, de Grece, et du Levant.

2 parts in 1 vol., 12mo: [16]-607-[1 bl.-8] pp.; 80 pl. (light damp stain in lower corner, occ. minor spotting).

Contemp. marbled calf, blind-tooled spine with raised bands and gilt title, gilt sides (gilding faded). Good copy.

Rare first French translation (1st English 1682) of this travel account on Greece and the Levant, by sir G. Wheler (1651-1724). Ill. with allegorical engr. title and 80 engr. pl., of which 1 fold. map, 8 double-page numismatical pl., 28 full-page maps and views of cities, towns, temples and palaces, 29 views on momuments (temples, columns, statues, etc.), 10 full-page botanical pl., 2 zoological and 2 pl. with costumes. Numerous woodcut ill. in-text, 5 epigraphical printed folding pl. The English clergyman and traveller G. Wheler set out on a journey with J. Spon in 1675, crossing Italy, Constantinople, Asia Minor and Greece. The very detailed, precise account contains one of the best descriptions on old Athens and the Greek antiquities. One of the views shows the Parthenon before the fatal explosion of 1687. "The first antiquarian expedition into those parts of which careful record has been kept" (Cox).
Ref. Atabey 1329 (the Antwerp issue of this ed.). - Navari (Greek) 790. - Chadenat 1229, 5765, 6462. - Cox I:212. - STCN.
Prov. A few ms. entries and stamp on end- and flyleaves.