Chandler R., Revett N., Pars W., “Society of Dilettanti: Ionian antiquities, published with permission of the Society of Dilettanti”, London, T. Spilsbury and W. Haskell, 1769. First Edition, 2nd enlarged issue of vol.I. Imperial folio, pp.60. Complete with 28 impressive engraved plates & 4 engraved head- & tail-pieces.

This is the first volume of the Society’s series for Ionian Antiquities which stretched to five volumes, published over 136 years. After the success of publication of the Antiquities of Athens by Stuart and Revett in 1762, the Society of Dilettanti funded a two years mission in Anatolia, to discover the Ionian Antiquities. Revett himself, along with Chandler and W. Pars, were members of the expedition team. It was the first scientific expedition in Asia Minor and its results contributed significantly in the rise of philhellenism. The engravings were made on the spot by the best artists of the time. This book had big influence on neo-classicism in England.

This large-format volume includes drawings and delineations from the temple of Dionysus in Teos, the temple of Athena in Priene and the temple of Apollo in Didyma. An overview of the history of each place precedes the plates, each of which is accompanied by explanatory notes.

Contemporary full leather rebacked, a clean and very good copy.

[Blackmer 1566]