[GRELOT (Joseph-Guillaume)]. - Lot 21

[GRELOT (Joseph-Guillaume)]. Relation nouvelle d'un voyage de Constantinople. Paris, by Nicolas Belley, 1689. In-4. [6] ff, 306 pp, [1] f. plates. Contemporary mottled tan basane, 5-rib spine, gilt title, ornate caissons, mottled edges. Beautiful engraved title vignette. Illustrated by the author Joseph-Guillaume Grelot with 12 black etchings, including 10 fold-outs, depicting views and plans of Constantinople. It also includes 4 figures in the text. Account of the journey to Constantinople made by draftsman Guillaume-Joseph Grelot in the company of Jean Chardin. Illustrated by the author with plans and views of Constantinople "which are considered to be very accurate". Grelot drew the figures for Chardin's voyage (Brunet). Chardin, on his way to Persia, asked Grelot to accompany him. Grelot followed him on his explorations, meticulously recording the sites, monuments, costumes and ceremonies of the countries they visited. After a falling-out with Chardin, he returned to Paris in 1676. The plates illustrating his account were engraved from his drawings and include two panoramic views of Constantinople and views of Saint Sophia. "Grelot was the first to prepare detailed plans of St. Sophia and other monuments in Constantinople" (Blackmer). Brunet, II, 1733; Atabey, 527; Blackmer, 750. Corners dulled, upper spine worn, light spotting, small tears without missing tabs to qq. plates, 1 plate lacking.