Boethius Cristoph, "Ruhm-belorberter Triumph-leuchtender und Glantz-erhoheter Kriegs-Helm dero Rom.Kaiser. auch zu Hungarn…., Morea", Nurenberg-Lochner, 1688. Οne of the rarest contemporary eyewitness accounts of the Balkans (Hungary, Dalmatia, Greece) during 1683-88. Fine contemporary vellum with manuscript title, in almost mint condition. 4to, (21x16cm) and 14cm thickness (as 3 large volumes are bound in one), pp.[6],344, [8],456, [8],[4],592, [12],48, [4],148, [3]. Complete, collated with the surviving copy in Zurich Bibliothek. Engraved frontis, title in red and black, including all the SPLENDID NINETY FIVE (94 plates + frontispiece), original drawn, copper engraved plates (50 FOLDED). Ex libris of a Dominican Monastery in Saxonia. Extremely fine condition with most of the multi-folded plates in almost mint condition. The German scholar Boethius has undertaken, after Imperial request and funding, to describe the Christian victories against the Ottomans during 1683-88 that changed South Eastern Europe: the conquest of Hungary and parts of Serbia by the Emperor and of Morea and parts of Greece by Venice. In more than 1.600 pages, Boethius describes thoroughly all the liberated countries, including eyewitness accounts of all battles & sieges and extending his descriptions to matters such as diplomatic alliances, archaeological discoveries, economic prospects, travel itineraries etc. The later part is a specific presentation of the Peloponnesus (Morea) and the islands and places in Greece conquered by the Venetians. The plates depict portraits of all the main contemporary leaders, spectacular views of around 40 cities and castles (including Constantinople, Vienna, Budapest, Athens, Iraklio, Patra, Nafplio, Koroni, Monemvasia, Halkida, Belgrade and several other places in Greece, Hungary and the Balkans), as well many battle scenes (including Kalamata and Patra battles). It also includes the first ever printed view of the bombardment of Parthenon in Athens, drawn most probably on the spot and published only six months after the event. Also includes 3 very large maps of Greece, the Balkans and Russia / Black sea up to Constantinople (neither in Zacharakis catalogue). All views of the places folded (except 4), many of impressive size. All plates have different sizes, indicating the different sources used and the efforts to include all the latest events in the publication. A detailed list of the 50 folded views can be reached in e-catalogue. This very expensive publication had an only 200 pieces print run and was never reprinted. Only 5 sets remain intact in public libraries worldwide and even the incomplete sets are considered very rare. Not in Atabey, Blackmer, Brunet or any other known collection. A fine set of an EXTREMELY RARE work.