Travel
WHELER, George.
A journey into Greece ... in company of Dr Spon of Lyons. In six books. Containing I. A voyage from Venice to Constantinople. II. An account of Constantinople and the adjacent places. III. A voyage through the Lesser Asia. IV. A voyage from Zant through several parts of Greece to Athens. V. An account of Athens. VI. Several journeys from Athens, into Attica, Corinth, Boeotia, &c. With variety of sculptures.
London, printed for William Cademan and Robert Kettlewell. 1682. First edition. Small folio (20 x 29.5cm) [xiv], 80, 177-483pp., (complete) large engraved map of Achaia, 4 full-page plates, 3 smaller plates, numerous engraved illustrations throughout the text, C1, Pp2 &Pp3 remargined without loss, large folding map archivally reinforced from rear without loss, title soiled, contemporary mottled calf, unlettered, joints repaired.
Spon's account of the joint journey came out in France in 1689. Discussion of the production of an English translation caused Wheler to issue his own version. The travels took place in 1675-76. Wheler was specially interested in botany and topography and this was the first work to attempt a systematic topographical description of Greece. It remained the standard English book on Greece for many years, although it was never reprinted. The map is of interest for Wheler used his own system of trigonometry to construct it (Blackmer). Wing W1607; Atabey 1328; Blackmer 1786; Weber 413; Zacharakis (1982) 2131.
Price: £ 3500
US Dollar Price: $ 6940
Stock Number: 52004