Choiseul-Gouffier, Marie Gabriel A.F. de, comte.

first edition, first issue, 2 volumes bound in 3 (volume 2 is in 2 parts), folio (505 x 315mm.), half-titles in first two volumes, 3 engraved titles, portrait, 2 unnumbered folding maps of Greece and 285 plates, maps and plans on 168 sheets, a few double-page or folding, elaborate engraved head- and tail-pieces, folding letterpress table, pp.3-8 (A2-B2) and pp.183-4 (3C1) in volume 1 each in 2 variant settings (see footnote), near uniform contemporary green morocco gilt, volume 1 by derome le jeune and with arms of preissac, duc d'esclignac on sides (binder's ticket on title page) [Olivier, XVIII, pl.1777], each volume with triple gilt fillet on sides, spines gilt in 8 compartments, gilt edges, vol.2 part 2 lacking preliminary leaves (i.e. half-title, avertissement and 12pp. notice, article, etc.), minor expert restoration to spine

Preissac d'Esclignac, arms on covers of vol.1; Comte de Ludolf, stamp on half-title of vol.1

Atabey 241; Blackmer 342; Cohen-de Ricci 238; Weber II, 571

a magnificent copy bound in contemporary green morocco gilt (one volume by derome le jeune) with two autograph letters by the author inserted.

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 illustration of Turkey and Constantinople.

There are three issues of volume 1 of this work, this copy being the first, with the preliminary discourse ending of the fourth line of p.16. In addition changes were made to the text of pp.3-8, 131-2 and 183-4, and in this copy the two variant settings have been retained for pp.3-8 and 183-4 (see Blackmer footnote).