| Marie Gabriel August Florent de Choiseul-Gouffier — Voyage pittoresque de la Grèce |
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Voyage pittoresque de la Grèce |
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Paris: Blaise, 1782-1822., 1822. 2 volumes in 3. Folio (22 x 14 inches). Half-title and vignette title-page in each volume. 2 FINE double-page engraved maps of Greece at the beginning of volume one, frontispiece portrait of Choiseul-Gouffier at the beginning of the third volume, and volume one with 126 numbered engraved plates on 100 leaves, volume II with 157 numbered engraved plates on 68 leaves with two extra plates (bis 8 and 76), including nine double-page and one folding, and numerous fine vignette head- and tail-pieces. Modern half tan calf, marbled paper boards gilt, uncut. First edition, third issue of volume one with preface on page xii ending with the words "O utinam." rather than "exoriare aliquis", and a FINE AND ATTRACTIVE SET, of this magnificent account of Choiseul-Gouffier's tour of Greece in 1776. Illustrated with nearly 300 spectacular engraved plates of maps, plans, views, customs and antiquities. Choiseul-Gouffier travelled to Greece as part of the Marquis de Chabert's expedition to prepare for a new map of the Mediterranean. His appointment as French ambassador at Constantinople in 1784 is reputed to be as a direct result of the success of the first volume of his "Voyage pittoresque " Although recalled to France during the French Revolution Choiseul-Gouffier stayed in Constantinople, fearing the guillotine if he returned. He fled to Russian in 1792 and only returned to France in 1802 when Napolean granted amnesty to exiled nobility. Upon his return he began the second , the first part of which he published in 1809, however his magnum opus was only completed after his death under the direction of Barbié du Bocage. Blackmer 342; Cohen-De Ricci 238. |
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