SESTINI (Domenico). Viaggio di ritorno da Bassora... Lot 27

SESTINI (Domenico). Viaggio di ritorno da Bassora a Costantinopoli fatta dall' Abate Domenico Sestini. [Livorno or Yverdun], 1788. - In-4, 209 x 147 : XII, 196 pp. Brown half calf with corners, smooth spine decorated (contemporary binding). Vivien de Saint-Martin, Voyages faits en Asie Mineure depuis le XIIIe siècle, no. 148. - Atabey, The Ottoman world, 1126. First edition of this account by the Florentine numismatist, archaeologist and great traveler Abbé Domenico Sestini (17..-1832), of his round trip from Basra to Constantinople from 1781 to 1782. Sestini wrote two separate accounts of this journey, the first entitled Viaggio da Constantinopoli a bassora, published in 1786, and this one, published two years later, which was much sought-after for knowledge of Asia Minor at the time. The author not only describes the voyage, but also offers his own observations on natural history, botany, agriculture, geography, antiquities, trade and the habits and customs of the peoples he visited. Binding skilfully restored. Small loss to one spine. Light spotting to binding and throughout volume, more pronounced at end.