The Antiquities of Palmyra ~The Presentation copy from the Printers to the Royal Society in 1696
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Description
SELLER, Abednego.
The Antiquities of Palmyra. Containing the History of the City, and its Emperors, from its Foundation to the Present Time. With an Appendix of critical observations on the names, religion, and government of the country. And a Commentary on the inscriptions lately found there.
For S. Smith and B. Walford, printers to the Royal Society, at the Princes-Arms in St. Paul’s Church-Yard. 1696. 8vo.
FIRST EDITION. Complete with errata leaf, 3 engraved folding engraved plates including the two-plate panorama of the Ruins of Palmyra alias Tadmor taken on the southern side, and a double plate of coins.
THE PRESENTATION COPY TO THE ROYAL SOCIETY from Messrs. Smith and Walford, publishers to the Royal Society with their inscription at the foot of the title page: “ Presented to the Royal Society by Mr. S. Smith & B. Walford. ”
A fine copy in contemporary paneled calf, expertly re-backed with gilt paneled spine, red morocco label. Slight rubbing to corners but a very good, tight binding. The text pages are fresh and crisp with only minor blemishes. The panorama is bound into the volume in two separate plates. Generally this engraving is found in poor state – in this instance there are minor few tears in the margins with one split to fold line very skillfully repaired and strengthened. Otherwise, a strongly inked impression of this important early view of Palmyra in excellent condition.
Travel to Palmyra by Europeans began with the historic 1691 expedition undertaken by British merchants based in Aleppo who, upon hearing stories about this vast ruin, made the dangerous journey across the desert. Working for the British Levant Company, several members of the group were Oxford-educated orientalists and antiquarians seeking to identify this mysterious city. Their detailed report sent to the Royal Society was later published with a 180-degree panorama that, when read from left to right, served as a virtual illustrated guide to their itinerary through Palmyra’s ruins. The panorama was subsequently reproduced by Abednego Seller in his 1696 book, The Antiquities of Palmyra.
The Getty Research Institute: Western Rediscovery of Palmyra
The book has a dedication to the Royal Society, which had lately published the journals of discoveries made at the expense of the Levant Society: ” Nor is this the only Instance wherein those eminent Merchants have been benefactors to the Commonwealth of Letters”.
One of the earliest descriptions of Palmyra (Blackmer).