Lot 08045

GUYS Pierre-Augustin, “Voyage Litteraire de la Grece, ou Lettres sur les Grecs, Anciens et Modernes”, Paris, Duchesne, 1771. FIRST EDITION. Complete in two (2) Volumes. 12mo, pp. xvi, 420, 244.

Rare First Edition of this unusual “literary” travel book to Greece & the Levant by Pierre-Augustin Guys (1720-1799), physican of Lyons and member of the Academy of Sciences and Belles-Lettres of Marseille. Guys had spent more than 30 years in the Levant engaged in commercial pursuits. His knowledge of the Orient, and his literary and antiquarian studies led him to undertake a comparison between the ancient and modern Greeks, concluding that the modern Greeks were direct descendants of the ancients. Thus, Guys’ work forms an important stage in the development of French Philhellenism.

Contemporary full leather, spine with decorations in gilt & red edges. Rubbed and lightly cracked joints and spines, interior with occasional spotting, otherwise clean and fine. Ex libris label of the “EX LIB. CAR. MAR. DE LA CONDAMINE” and cachets on title pages.

Current First edition Not in Blackmer, Atabey or Contominas.