Syria, The Holy Land, Asia Minor &c. illustrated in a Series of Views Drawn from Nature - with dozens of steel engravings drawn by W. H. Bartlett and William Purser, descriptions by John Carne, published by Fisher, Son & Co. London, 1836 - First Edition. Three parts in a single volume - Separate title page for each part. Magnificent edition.
An important travel book accompanied by 122 steel engraving plates, depicting views of Eretz Israel and Middle East based on Bartlett's illustrations - scenes from Syria, the Holy Land and Asia Minor. The engravings were based on sketches made by Bartlett during his travels in the region in 1834-1835. The full-page engraved plates include the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, many landscape views such as the Dead Sea and the Jordan River, Petra, cities and towns - Damascus, Cairo and Constantinople, and more. The engravings are accompanied by descriptive text written by John Carne providing important historical and cultural context of the area as well as his own travel impressions. Upon its release it was a great success and caused to popularize travel to the Middle East in the Victorian era. Additionally it is considered an important historical document as it provides valuable visual documentation of the region during a time of significant change.
II, 80, 76; 100, [4] pages. 29 cm. Gilt leaf cutting. Original half-leather binding with golden embossing. Light stains on the cover, and on some pages. Crack in the lower part of the spine. Wear at the corners of the cover. General condition good.
