LAVALLÉE, Joseph - CASSAS, Louis François. Voyage pittoresque et historique de l'Istrie et Dalmatie.
Paris, (P Didot l'aîné), an X-1802
First edition. A magnificent travel book depicting a picture of the archaeological remains of the Gulf of Venice, in the region of Dalmatia and Istria, with remarkable views of Trieste. Magnificent engraved illustrations based on original drawings by Louis-François Cassas under the direction of Née. Includes a titlepage engraved by Filhol and finished by Née, an allegorical frontispiece by Pillement, Réville, and Née, a large double-page map of Istria and Dalmatia, 3 headpieces and 66 plates outside the text, some of which are double-page or folded, numbered 1-60 with plates 9bis, 18bis, 27bis, 37bis, 54bis, and 55bis. Complete copy with list of subscribers.
The book is divided into two parts. The first part, historical, was composed by Lavallée; the second, dedicated to the picturesque journey, was written by Lavallée based on the diary of the Orientalist painter Louis-François Cassas (1756-1827). A pupil of Lagrenée the Younger and Le Prince, Cassas spent the summer of 1782 in Istria and Dalmatia drawing sites and archaeological remains.
Cohen, 205; The Blackmer coll., 456; Kat. Berlin 1910; Minischetti, p. 116; Pétrovitch, 74; Cremonini, L'Italia nelle vedute e carte, n. 85.
Two parts in one folio volume; 555 x 345 mm. Contemporary red quarter Morocco binding, with gilt title and decorations on the smooth spine. Pages (6), VIII (list of subscribers), 190, (1, Errata), 1 blank.
Magnificent engraved illustration from the original drawings by Louis-François Cassas under the direction of Née. It includes a title page engraved by Filhol and finished by Née, an allegorical title page by Pillement, Réville and Née, a large double-page geographical map of Istria and Dalmatia, 3 headpieces and 66 plates, some of which are on double pages or folded, numbered 1-60 with plates 9bis, 18bis, 27bis, 37bis, 54bis and 55bis. Complete copy with the list of members. In total 69 copper engraved plates. Occasional foxing, some pages with light even browning, overall a good untrimmed copy.