FORBIN (Auguste de). Souvenirs of Sicily. Paris, de l'Imp. r - Lot 123

FORBIN (Auguste de). Souvenirs of Sicily. Paris, de l'Imp. royale, 1823. In-8, [2] f., XX-394 p., [1] f., contemporary havana calf, spine with 4 bands, gilt author and title, gilt fleurons, fillets, friezes and frames, 5 gilt frames on the boards with fillets or friezes, large cold-stamped foliate fleuron in the center of the boards, gilt frieze on the edges, blue marbled edges, gilt roulette (hinges rubbed, small stain; light russeting on front and sides). Filled frontispiece of the ruins of the temple of Taormina drawn by the author and engraved by Lemaître, depicting Etna; obverse and reverse of an antique coin of Syracuse engraved repeated in header and cul-de-lampe; 2 f. of music from the ariette nazionali siciliane con accompagnamento di piano forte. First edition. Complement to Voyage dans le Levant by the same author: Auguste de Forbin (1777-1841) actually made this visit in 1820, a year after returning from his extensive Middle Eastern tour, officially undertaken as director of the Royal Museums. Repeated R.N. bookplate.