1823. First Edition . SPILSBURY, Francis B. Picturesque Scenery in the Holy Land and Syria, Delineated during the Campaigns of 1799 and 1800. London: S. Tregear, 1823. Quarto, 19th-century full olive morocco, raised bands, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. $4200.Third edition, the first quarto edition of English naval surgeon Francis Spilsbury's account of his travels in the Holy Land and Syria during the Napoleonic campaigns there, with 19 finely hand-colored aquatint views.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 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. First published in folio in 1803 and again in 1819. See Abbey, Travel 381. Colas 2788. Blackmer 1585. Plates and text fine, light rubbing to spine extremities, spine mellowed to brown. A near-fine copy with vividly hand-colored plates.

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Bookseller: Bauman Rare Books (US)
Bookseller's Inventory #: 126506
Title: Picturesque Scenery in the Holy Land and Syria
Author: SPILSBURY Francis B
Book Condition: Used
Quantity Available: 1
Edition: First Edition
Binding: Hardcover
Date Published: 1823

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Spine: The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
Morocco: Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
Gilt: The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
Folio: A folio usually indicates a large book size of 15" in height or larger when used in the context of a book description. Further,...
Quarto: The term quarto is used to describe a page or book size. A printed sheet is made with four pages of text on each side, and the...
Rubbing: Abrasion or wear to the surface. Usually used in reference to a book's boards or dust-jacket.
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First Edition: In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
Raised Band(s): Raised bands refer to the ridges that protrude slightly from the spine on leather bound books. The bands are created in the...