Beschreibung:

BLOUET, Guillaume Abel (1795-1853). Expédition Scientifique de Morée, ordonnée par le gouvernement français: architecture, sculptures, inscriptions et vues du Péloponèse, des Cyclades et de l'Attique . Paris: Firmin Didot 1831-1838. 3 volumes, 2° (575 x 405mm). Half-titles, additional engraved titles, 262 engraved plates, 5 coloured, 3 double-page and 2 folding. (Light spotting to many leaves, mostly marginal.) Panelled green morocco gilt by J. Wright, gilt edges (spines slightly faded, some spotting to covers). FIRST AND ONLY EDITION OF 'THIS IMPORTANT WORK..., A TURNING POINT IN THE HISTORY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES' (Blackmer). The French military mission to liberate Morea from Egyptian troops afforded the opportunity for the 'first attempt at a systematic scientific study of Greece'. During the early months of the French occupation of the Peloponnesus from 1829-1833, the scientific expedition, divided into architecture, archaeology and natural sciences, succeeded in amassing much topographical, geographical, botanical and zoological information. Blouet, a distinguished French architect (later responsible for the Arc de Triomphe in Paris), directed the architctural survey which also came to include the archaeological section, disbanded after just a few months. The engraved plates include fine views, maps, plans and illustrations of sculptures, friezes and inscriptions. Beriah Botfield was particularly interested in archaelogy, an enthusiastic member of the Archaeological Association, and local societies in Shropshire and Northamptonshire, donating funds for various excavations in both counties. Cf. Blackmer 153; Brunet II, 1135. (3)