HENRY ELLIS: ELGIN AND PHIGALIAN MARBLES. LONDON 1833-1846 First edition of volume two, second extended edition of volume one, in 8vo,complete in two volumes, contemporary uniform cloth richly gilt,text and plates clean and bright,very richly illustrated with one hundred seventy four (174) illustrations mostly in the text, overall in very good condition, a fine rare set of one of the very first detailed publications of British Museum and one of the very first ever Museum s catalogue ever printed. These Greek marbles became very soon, after their acquisition in early 19th century, the landmark of British Museum and its most famous Greek antiquities.The accounts were compiled by Sir Henry Ellis (1777-1869), who was the Principal Librarian of the British Museum. Its primary purpose was to provide the public with a readable yet scholarly guide to the sculptures that had recently become the centerpiece of the British Museum's collection. It cover The Elgin Marbles and the Phigalian Marbles. The volumes are profusely illustrated with woodcuts and engravings, which allowed readers who couldn't visit London or actual visitors to study the ideal beauty of the sculptures.One of the very early publications by any Museum regarding any collection.An early milestone scholar guide to the Elgin Marbles, extremely rare