Choiseul-Gouffier | Voyage pittoresque de la Grece. Paris, 1782-1809, 2 vols, folio (without vol.2 pt 2)

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

Voyage pittoresque de la Grece. Paris, 1782-1809 

FIRST EDITION, first issue (with volume 1 preliminary discourse ending on line 4 of p.16), 2 volumes (without volume 2 part 2), folio (465 x 328mm.), half-titles and engraved title-pages in each volume, volume 1 with unnumbered folding map of Greece (of 2 called for in Blackmer), plus 126 numbered plates on 100 sheets, volume 2 with 17 numbered plates (including 8 bis.) on 11 sheets, nineteenth-century calf-backed marbled boards, spines gilt with morocco labels, modern adhesive labels to upper covers, half-title of second volume with closed tear repaired, some foxing and browning, bindings rubbed, loss to head and foot of the spine of volume 1, volume 2 upper joint split

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 tail-pieces. Despite the title there is considerable information and many illustrations of Turkey and Constantinople.

LITERATURE:

Atabey 241; Blackmer 342; Brunet, I, 1847; Cohen 238

PROVENANCE:

The Loverdos Collection, gilt bookplate and library stamp to rear paste-down, in both volumes