PERTUSIER, Charles.

Promenades pittoresques dans Constantinople et sur les rives du Bosphore,

suivies d'une notice sur la Dalmatie.

Stock Code

100625

Paris, P. Didot l'ainé for H. Nicolle, 1817

£17,500

The first edition, complete with the text volumes.

Pertusier (1779-1836) was in Constantinople from 1812 as aide-de-camp to General Andreossy, the French ambasador to the Porte from 1811 until 1814. He has produced here a charming description of the environs of Constantinople. In the 23rd he discusses the Greeks of the Phanar (the neighborhood midway up the Golden Horn within the district of Fatih in Istanbul). The atlas (which is of some rarity) contains fine and very interesting plates by Michel-François Preault, an architect who travelled to Constantinople in 1796 with a French company of engineers engaged to new army and navy barracks. He remained in Constantinople till at least 1827 and his illustrations are to be found in works by Andreossy and others. The drawings he produced for Pertusier are among his finest. They include views of sites in and around Constantinople (Blackmer).

The atlas volume was published separately two years the text volumes.

Description

First edition, 4 volumes, 3 vols 8vo text & folio atlas (60 x 44 cm approx.) with 25 etched and aquatint plates by Benedikt Piringer after Preault, 4 of these double-page, contemporary quarter morocco over marlbed boards, rebacked to style, new endpapers, an excellent set.