La Gréce. Vues Pittoresuqes et Topographiques

First edition.2 volumes (large folio and landscape folio) vol I: title page,(IV), 28 pgs of text  Peloponesus and Achaia;18 pgs Grece Sreptentrional, 1 leaf of Classement.Illustrated with 15 lithographical vignettes and 84 large lithographies. Vol II in plano with 27 large lithographies representing views, landscapes, panoramas, harbours etc. Both volumes with original light brown half calf binding. Binding and lithographies in perfect condition. This is the Stackelberg´s chef d´oeuvre and it is regarded by many as the most beautiful book of Greek views ever printed( Blackmer).
Stackelberg (1786-1837) was born in estonia from a noble family whose father was colonel in the Russian imperial army.Studied at Gottingen and traveled to Italy with some friends and to Greece in 1810 and joined by the english John Foster and Robert Cockerell. They carried out excavations at the temple of Aphaia at AEgina and later at the temple of Apollo Bassae  at  Arcadia. He travelled extensively to Italy, Greece and Turkey and is considered one of the founder of the German Archeological Institute in Rome.
Complete copies with text and large views bound in plano didn´t appear in the market in the antiquarian book market. It ´s an exceptional copy in extremely fine condition.