Lot 08082

SPON Jacob, WHELER George, “Voyage dItalie, de Dalmatie, de Grèce, et du Levant, fait aux années 1675 & 1676. A Lyon, Chez Antoine Cellier le fils, 1678. Two (out of three) 12mo Volumes, p. [24 Preface without numbering],405,[3] + 417,[9 tables]. 

FIRST 1st edition, including an engraved title vignette on both volumes, 8 (out of 15) engravings in Volume One and 7 (out of 14) engravings in Volume Two. The rest is missing (most folding).

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.

Contemporary full vellum, loose internal joint, short tears on only few folding plates, occasional pencil notes.

Blackmer 1586, Atabey 1170,  Brunet V, 498 (Jolie édition, pas commune), Quérard IX, 244, Chadenat, 4815.