"CELEBRATED IN HISTORY AS THE SCENE OF MANY OBSTINATE CONFLICTS": WITH 19 LOVELY HAND-COLORED AQUATINT VIEWS OF THE HOLY LAND

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.