102 - PETER PALLAS: TRAVELS THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PROVINCES OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE IN THE YEARS 1793 AND 1794. LONDON, 1802-1803

PETER PALLAS: TRAVELS THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PROVINCES OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE IN THE YEARS 1793 AND 1794. LONDON, 1802-1803 First edition in English .Small Folio, a large copy, modern leather over boards, edges marbled, complete in two volumes 552p., 510p. and 83 engraved or aquatints plates as called for (28 inside the text ,24 single page outside the text and 30 folded including six maps). Most of the plates with fine contemporary coloring, some pencil annotations at margins, light wear at spines, overall in very good condition. The German botanist Peter Pallas, commissioned by Catherine the Great, undertook a massive scientific expedition across the newly acquired northern coastlines of the Black Sea. He spent two years traversing the area, the book serves as an encyclopedia of the region and it is very richly illustrated with more than 50 fine views, aquatints with splendid contemporary colors. Pallas gives a precious account of the Greek original medieval population of the Crimea that had recently then relocated in the sea of Azov, in Marioupoli, where it is still present.