Turkey - [GALARD DE BRASSAC DE BEARN (Louis-Hector de)]. Some memories of a campaign in Turkey. Sl, sd (1829 or 1839). In-folio, title-frontispiece lithographed on tinted background, [2] ff. of autographed text (dedication to Casimir de Mortemart, introduction), 62 magnificent lithographed plates on tinted background, each captioned by a f. of text also autographed, green half-basin with corners, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets and garlands (period binding). Joints restored. Copy washed and replaced in its binding. Unique edition of this very beautiful album, with an entirely autographed text and spectacular lithographs. A former polytechnician, Louis-Hector de Galard de Brassac, prince of Béarn (1802-1871), had started his career in 1828 as a military attaché to the Russian army staff, to follow the operations of the Tsar's army against the Turks during the 1828-1829 campaign, marking the intervention of Russia in the Hellenic revolt. He participated more personally in the capture of Varna, and for this fact received from the hands of Nicholas I the cross of Saint Vladimir. This collection of very beautiful plates, drawn on the spot, was published in small numbers (perhaps 100 copies, in any case out of trade) following this experience, either immediately after the return of the mission (i.e. 1829), or in 1839 (according to the date attributed by the Gennadius Library in Athens). Each plate is abundantly captioned, and the explanatory text can be very developed. The places represented range from Poland to Volhynia, Podolia, Bessarabia, and Turkey proper. The views of Odessa, Sevastopol and Varna at the end of the volume are especially noteworthy among the iconographic achievements of the album (Blackmer 98. Atabey 77 (Atabey sale, 83).