[ΙΩΣΗΦ ΓΕΩΡΓΙΡΗΝΗΣ] Joseph Georgirenes: A Description of the present state of Samos,Nicaria, patmos and Mount Athos. London, Pitt 1678 First edition, in 8vo, complete [18] 112p.,with the extra dedication of 4 pages in Greek found in very few copies, early 19 century leather over boards, corners of spine slightly rubbed, title page restored at the corners, some scattered browning, overall a very good copy. One of the very rare travel accounts for the Aegean, being one of the very few early accounts ever written by a Greek. Georgirenes was a leading Greek figure of 17th century. Born in Milos around 1635,he had spent 6 years of his early career in Athos before heading to Constantinople,where he met several Western officials and travelers. He became Archibishop of Samos (1666-1671),he found refuge in Patmos monastery (1671-74) and finally escaped to Europe to collect funds. He arrived to London,with the help of Lord Berkeley. Berkeley convinced him to write a book for the Aegean islands. Georgirenes did it, in a try to raise funds, by selling the book, for the construction of a Greek church in Soho, London. It is a unique source for the Aegean islands described. The plan for the Greek Church in London had failed, for several reasons, and Georgirenes was obliged to escape quickly from England in 1682,when his friends lost power and he had high chances to be imprisoned (Baron:From Samos to Soho, the Unorthodox Life of Joseph Georgirenes, Oxford 2017). The book is rare and one, of the very few, travel accounts written before the 19th century by a Greek. Atabey 489, Blackmer 672.