Picturesque Scenery in the Holy-Land and Syria. Delineated during the Campaigns of 1799 and 1800. Extra illustrated with plates from Luigi Mayer, "Views in Palestine," 1804. First folio edition.
London: Edward Orme, 1803. Folio. 18 x 12.5 inches. 46 x 3.5 cm. Original qtr. red morocco gilt spine rubbed with later marbled boards and matching morocco corners , together with a matching slipcase with leather ties housing the aquatints.
iv, [2], 42, [2]pp.
Abbey, Travel in Aquatint and Lithography, no. 381; Colas 2788; Blackmer 1585; OCLC Number: 458998508.
This unique package includes 6 aquatints from Spilsbury and 7 from Luigi Mayer, "Views in Palestine," Abbey, Travel, 369, Vol. II.
The Spilsbury aquatints include Abbey 381, nos.
1; 4; 7 (stained in lower margin) ; 12; 13; 14; three with full margins and three trimmed but with margins.
The Mayer aquatints include, Abbey 369, nos. 5; 6; 7; 12; 18; 20; 21. Full margins, few with remnants of corner hinges; 3 matted.
First edition of English naval surgeon Francis Spilsbury's account of his travels in the Holy Land and Syria during the Napoleonic campaigns there.Spilsbury was surgeon on board HMS Tigre during the campaigns of 1799 and 1800. The Tigre brought Sir William Sidney Smith to defend Acre against Napoleon's siege, and led a naval force in support of Turkish armies which finally relieved Acre, and his text gives some account of the military campaigns and the Turkish dignitaries. In his reminiscences Napoleon accused Smith of making him miss his destiny, as Smith's timely appearance thwarted Napoleon's drive to invade Syria and forced him to retreat to Egypt. The magnificent views (sadly missing from this book which is reflected in the price) are mostly connected with the coastal towns of modern Lebanon and Israel, though several are from Spilsbury's travels inland to meet the Grand Vizier in charge of the Turkish army, Jezzar Pacha, and other dignitaries. Item #51-3630
Price: $5,500.00