THE SOCIETY OF THE DILETTANTI “Ionian Antiquities”. [Antiquities of Ionia], London, Spilsbury and Haskell (I) 1769 and George Nicol (II), 1797. Two (2) volumes: First Edition, 2nd enlarged issue of vol.I. and the Vol. II.. The complete First Ionian mission by the Society of the Dilettanti. Folio, 55,4 x 37,8 cm. Vol. I: 33 full-page plates and 10 head & tailpieces, Vol.II: vignette on title page, 63 full-page engravings and 8 head & tailpieces. In total 96 full-page plates, one title vignette and 18 head & tail pieces all of exceptional quality. These two volumes reflect the results of the First Ionian mission sponsored by the Society of the Dilettanti, under the direction of Richard Chandler, with the architect Nicholas Revett and the painter William Pars that took place between 1764-1766. Founded in London in the early 18th century as a gentlemans club, the Society of Dilettanti was composed of scholars, artists, noblemen, and other Grand Tour travelers. The entire work was the result of the missions to Asia Minor sponsored by the Society, and considered the greatest contribution of the Society to the science of archaeology. Occasional light spotting, browning and offsetting, heavier to last 5 plates of vol. I, tiny marginal hole to pl. XXXII in vol. II. Contemporary russia, frames in gilt and blind to covers marbled endpapers and edges (sometime rebacked to style, extremities lightly rubbed). Brunet I 1782, Contominas 679, Blackmer 1566