Lot 03069

Didot F., “Notes d’un voyage dans le Levant en 1816 and 1817”, Paris, 1818. First and only edition. 8vo, 22x13cm. Large copy, modern fine leather over boards. Complete. Half title, title slightly restored, 403 pages, text fine. Manuscript dedication by the author on top of the half title (signed: “Ambroise Firmin Didot”). A very good copy. Didot spent his youth studying the classics with Korais (Αδαμάντιος Κοραής). The latter encouraged Didot to travel to the Levant to visit Greece and improve his Greek. He visited Greece and Asia Minor and spent time in Kidonies, one of the centers of Greek studies in Anatolia. Didot was among the most important philhellenes and later raised funds for the Greek revolution. The second part of the travel was never published. The work is dedicated to Korais. According to Atabey, this first part of the work was not intended for general circulation and Didot just printed a small number of copies offered as gifts to some of his friends. The dedication on this copy (as in Atabey’s copy) confirm this fact. VERY RARE. Atabey 350, Blackmer 485.