STUART, JAMES, and NICHOLAS REVETT. The Antiquities of Athens, Measured and Delineated. London: ...

STUART, JAMES, and NICHOLAS REVETT. The Antiquities of Athens, Measured and Delineated. London: John Haberkorn, 1762; J. Nichols 1787, 1794; T. Bensley for J. Taylor, 1816; Priestly & Weale, 1840. 5 volumes. Folio (volume 1 530 x 370 mm; volume 2 525-368 mm; volumes 3-5 540- x 370 mm). 367 engraved plates (71+69+86+86+55), of which 10 are double-page or folding, including the hand-colored map of Greece, engraved head- and tail-pieces in text, errata leaves at the end of volumes 1 and 3. Volume 1 full polished calf; volume 2 half red calf, volumes 3-5 diced russia decorated in gilt. Dampstain to first plate of volume 1, toning, browning and spotting throughout all volumes, endpapers chipped and loose to volumes 1-4; covers detached to volumes 1-4, which chipping and wear. FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST ACCURATE SURVEY OF THE CLASSICAL BUILDINGS OF ATHENS. John Summerson has described it as 'one of the three most important architectural travel books of the century.' Stuart and Revett's visit to Athens was made in 1751 at the instigation of the Society of Dilettanti. Stuart was responsible for the measured drawings, Revett for the topographical views. The complete series took nearly 70 years to complete, the last two published posthumously. Blackmer 1617; Cicognara 2713; Fowler 340; Harris 857. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing