Lot 47. LEAKE, William Martin.

William Leake originally arrived in Constantinople in 1799 to instruct the Turkish army in artillery practice. He subsequently toured Asia Minor and in 1804 was sent to Greece to do a military survey. He was taken prisoner when war broke out between England and the Porte. After his release he met Ali Pasha and persuaded him to bring about the reconciliation which ended hostilities. He again went to Greece in 1808 to supply Ali with arms against the French and became resident at Ioannina and Prevyhza. In the course of all this, he travelled extensively through most of Greece and carried out significant numismatic research as well as collecting the material for this important work.

Description

First edition. 4 vols bound in 2, 8vo, 10 engraved maps and plans, some folding, and 44 plates, wood-engraved illustrations in text, without errata slips but with advertisement leaf at end, some very slight fraying to outer edges of maps, some slight spotting, modern period style half calf, labels, spines gilt.

Bibliography

Blackmer 975.