Beschreibung:

NAPLES] SAINT-NON, JEAN CLAUDE RICHARD DE. Voyage pittoresque ou description des royaumes de Naples et de Sicile. . Paris: [Imprimerie de Cloisier], 1781-86. First edition. Three volumes bound in five, as commonly found; in this work, the second part of the first volume is considered to be volume two (which was never issued), and the two parts of the fourth volume are usually separately bound. Full brown russia, each volume with the arms on the covers of Thomas Wildman, with "Newstead Abbey" stamped in gilt below. 20 1/4 inches (51 cm); the dedication leaves in volume one and all half-titles are present. 9 folding maps, 6 single-leaf maps, and 265 plates, many with multiple images; plus many vignettes throughout, some printed in colors. Bindings quite worn (one volume already neatly rebacked), one board separated, several joints weak, the head of one spine chipped; internally, some minor paper toning, but generally this is a clean example. Due to the complex and variable collation, sold not subject to return. An intriguing copy of one of the great French illustrated books of the period. Wildman purchased Newstead Abbey from Lord George Gordon Byron, the poet, in 1817. Byron adored Newstead, the Byron family home; he wrote several poems about it, but was unable to afford maintenance on the badly dilapidated structure. Indeed, the nearly 95,000 pounds Wildman paid for the property helped finance (along with much else) Byron's own trip to Corsica and Sardinia in 1821. Cohen-de Ricci 928-30; Brunet V.55; Cicognara 2708. Provenance: The Newstead Abbey/Thomas Wildman copy, with arms and stamp on binding Estate of a New York Gentleman