[GRELOT, Guillaume-Joseph]. RECOLET. - Lot 163

[GRELOT, Guillaume-Joseph]. RECOLET. Relation nouvelle d'un voyage de Constantinople. Enrichie de plans levez par l'auteur sur les lieux & des figures de tout ce qu'il ya de plus remarquable dans cette ville. Présentée au Roy. A Paris, en boutique de Pierre Rocolet. Chez la Veuve de Damien Foucault, Imp. 1680. in-4, (6) ff, 306 pp, (1) f., 11 plates, 4 in-text figs, contemporary speckled calf, ribbed spine, gilt title, richly decorated caissons, gilt roulette on the edges, speckled edges (corners dulled, tail cap torn off, marginal wormholes affecting some plates, scattered foxing). Illustrated by the author Joseph-Guillaume Grelot with 11 black etchings, including 8 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). Blackmer, 750.