Bory de Saint-Vincent, Jean-Baptiste, and others.

first edition, 3 text volumes bound in 5 and atlas, together 6 volumes, text 4to (346 x 255mm.), atlas folio (546 x 352mm.), half-titles, engraved medallions on general titles, illustrations in the text, atlas with lithographed portrait of Bory de Saint-Vincent and 142 plates and maps (including one map on 5 separate sheets and a folding panorama on 5 joined sheets), some double-page or folding, 66 of which coloured by hand, list of plates, uniformly bound in contemporary calf-backed marbled boards, spines in compartments gilt, some spotting to text and plates, a few plates lightly browned, joints rubbed, atlas joints slightly split

Jean Antoine Letronne (1787-1848), round ink stamp to titles; Méry de Bellegarde, armorial bookplate

Blackmer 169; cf. Nissen, ZBI 213 (fourth series only); cf. Weber I, 236 (Relation)

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

a rare complete set of this work with the text volumes and atlas. "the scientific mission represented the first attempt at a systematic study of greece." (Blackmer)

The Morea Scientific Expedition, commanded by Bory de Saint-Vincent (1778-1846), the naturalist, already famed for his work with Baudin in the Pacific in 1800, was subjoined to the French military force which occupied parts of the Peloponnese between 1829 and 1833. The first volume comprises the Relation, which provides an overall account of the expedition, the second covers geography, geology and mineralogy and the third volume, zoology and botany. The atlas volume contains 6 maps, 31 topographical views (including a folding panorama), 12 coloured geological plates, 55 (of which 49 coloured) zoological plates and 38 (of which 5 coloured) botanical plates. This work forms a companion to that by Guillaume Abel Blouet on the architecture, monuments and archaeology of Morea (see lot 19).

from the library of jean antoine letronne, French archaeologist, who was admitted to the Academy of Inscriptions in 1816, and during a long career at the Collège Impérial (in 1870 becoming the Collège de France) was appointed professor of archaeology in 1838. In 1840 Letronne succeeded Pierre Claude François Daunou as keeper of the national archives.