WHELER GEORGE: VOYAGE DE DALMATIE, DE GRECE ET DU LEVANT. AMSTERDAM 1689 First edition in French,small 8vo,contemporary full leather slightly restored at spine and joints,with its contemporary claps still present,text clean and bright,complete two volumes in one and with ninety two (92) engraved copper plates in total (including one big folded map,23 small maps,48 views,16 plates with coins,4 epigraphic plates etc,many plates folded),overall in brilliant condition,the text and the plates fresh as issued. Wheler travelled with Spon in Greece in 1675/1676. They have compiled two different travels accounts,both the most important 17th century travel accounts of Greece. They systematically collected first-hand information along the Grecian antiquities and also carefully observed the life in 17th century Greece. Especially for Athens, Spon & Wheler conducted the first systematic recording of the Athenian antiquities, combining their theoretical knowledge with field observation, and thus considered to have inaugurated the archaeology of Athens. The map of Athens is the second ever drawn map of the city (after the map of Capuchin monks published just few years earlier), and one of the very few presenting Parthenon before the destruction of the 1687 by the Venetian artillery The number of plates vary considerably in these editions,as,most probably,the books were completed according the specific instructions of the buyers and also have been looted over the centuries,as they contain amazing early maps and views of Athens and other Greek places.No other copy has ever appeared with more than 87 plates.Almost unique copy in fine condition.