Boucher de Perthes J.: “Voyage à Constantinople par la Grece retour par la mer Noire la Roumelie, la Boulgarie...en Mai, Juin, Juillet, Aout 1853”, Paris 1855 First and only edition. In 8vo 18x12cm, two volumes complete 612p.,600p., later leather over contemporary boards, edges of papers marbled, some browning in few pages, overall clean and very good. Jacques Perthes (1788-1868) a French public employee (chief of customs) retreated in January 1853 and decided to travel in the Levant in spring 1853. After visiting Italy, he landed in Piraeus and spent some time in Athens before continuing his trip to Syros and Smyrna. He crossed Anatolia to Constantinople where he spent a month. He returned via the Black sea to Burgas (Pirgos) in Romelia, Northern Thrace and Bulgaria to Vienna. Important travel account for Greece and the Ottoman Levant at the eve of Crimean war from someone who had the culture and the experience to evaluate. As a previous customs officer for 35 years, he remarked that the Greek administration seems to work very slowly…. and not so efficiently, but the country is beautiful and the life relaxing… Not in Atabey or Blackmer. Very rare.