YORKE, PHILIP EARL OF HARDWICKE
Lettres athéniennes, ou Correspondance dun agent du roi de Perse, à Athènes, pendant la guerre du Péloponèse; tr. par A.L. Villeterque
Paris, Dentu, 1803.
First French edition of Yorke’s “Athenian Letters”, first published in English in 1741. COMPLETE in three (3) Volumes. \
pp.(31), [1], 396 + 408 + 385. Including three frontispieces, nine (9) full-page plates and a large folding map (53x40cm) at the end of the 3rd volume entitled “Grece au temps de la guerre du Peloponnese; suivant les historiens les plus authentiques” engraved by Tardieu and depicting Greeceand Turkey reaching Cyprus to it’s Southeastern edge and two inset maps of Athens and the Persian empire.
A collection of fictitious letters describing Athens during the Peloponnesian War, written by Philip Yorke, 2nd Earl of Hardwicke, his younger brother Charles Yorke, and ten of their friends/authors. An interesting example expressing the influence of the ancient Greek culture in early 19th century British intellectual circles.
Contemporary full morocco red diced on covers and black on spines. Very fine set with just occasional spotting, one tear proffesionally restored on a sheet of Vol.1. External light only rubbing, bumped spot on joint of Vol.2.