SPON Jacob, WHELER George, “Voyage dItalie, de Dalmatie, de Grece, et du Levant, fait aux années 1675 & 1676”, The Hague, Rutgert Alberts, 1724. 2 Volumes, 12mo, pp. [16], 367 & 405. Complete with two (2) engraved title pages and 34 full-page copper plates including a portrait of J. Spon, plans & views, many folding. Third edition in French. Contemporary full-leather, decorations in gilt on spine of Vol.I, old paper reinforces spine at Vol.II, external wear along boards, joints and spine, inside a fine copy with only occasional spotting. Jacob Spon, French doctor and archaeologist, was a pioneer in the exploration of the monuments of Greece. Spon travelled along with G. Wheler whom he met in Italy in 1675. They have compiled one of the most important 17th century travel accounts of Greece. They systematically collected first-hand information along the Grecian antiquities and also carefully observed the life in 17th century Greece. Especially for Athens, Spon & Wheler conducted the first systematic recording of the Athenian antiquities, combining their theoretical knowledge with field observation, and thus considered to have inaugurated the archaeology of Athens. The map of Athens (Vol.II, pp.256) is the second ever drawn map of the city (after the map of Capuchin monks publ. in 1675), and one of the very few presenting Parthenon before the destruction of the 1687 by the Venetian artillery. Very Rare. Not in Blackmer, Not in Atabey, Not in Weber, Contominas 686.