Choiseul-Gouffier | Voyage pittoresque de la Grèce, 1782-1822, 3 volumes

GREECE AND THE LEVANT, A PRIVATE LIBRARY, LOTS 157-213

CHOISEUL-GOUFFIER, MARIE GABRIEL A.F. DE, COMTE

Voyage Pittoresque de la Grèce. Paris: - , and J.J. Blaise, 1782-1809-1822

FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, 2 volumes bound in 3 (volume 2 is in 2 parts), folio (485 x 320mm.), half-title in vol.1, 3 engraved titles, portrait in vol.2, 2 unnumbered folding maps of Greece in vol.1, 285 plates and maps on 168 sheets, a few double-page or folding (including 3 of Constantinople towards end of last vol.), elaborate engraved head- and tail-pieces, double-page letterpress genealogical table, with an additional map of Naples at p.125 vol.1 and a duplicate engraved title-page for vol.2 part 2 bound at p.453 of last vol., uniform contemporary russia gilt, lacks half-titles in 2 vol., prelims for vol.2 part 2 bound at beginning of vol.2 part 1, bindings slightly worn

Choiseul-Gouffier travelled with the artist Jean-Baptiste Hilaire to the Levant in 1776. The author's unreserved admiration for Greece and its people, combined with the skill of Hilaire's recreation of its topography and costume was received with great enthusiasm by the French public. On its appearance in 1782 the work was so successful that in 1784 Choiseul-Gouffier was appointed ambassador to Constantinople. A second volume appeared in 1809 and a third (i.e. volume 2, part 2) was published posthumously in 1822. The work is particularly notable for its plates, including as they do fine views, architectural details, accurate maps and head and tailpieces. Despite the title there is considerable information and many illustrations of Turkey and Constantinople.

LITERATURE:

Blackmer 342; Atabey 241

PROVENANCE:

Dogmersfield Library, bookplate in vol.1