First edition of a rare and beautifully illustrated account of a journey through Dalmatia and Montenegro, documenting the Roman remains and picturesque landscapes of the eastern Adriatic. Published at a time when the eastern Adriatic was still little known to Western European travellers, Pelerin's work combines the qualities of a travel narrative, an archaeological survey, and a picturesque album. The author describes the principal Roman monuments of Dalmatia, together with the historic cities, churches, public squares, and dramatic landscapes encountered during his journey through Dalmatia and Montenegro. Besides recording the architectural remains of the Roman Empire, he provides historical observations on the region and its cultural heritage, making the work an important contribution to the growing nineteenth-century interest in the archaeology and history of the Balkans.
The present work is illustrated with 12 finely executed tinted lithographs, including 2 printed on a grey ground and most of the others finished in three colours. Lithographed by Delphine-Gabrielle Keller and Auguste Alexandre Hirsch and printed by the renowned Parisian firm Lemercier, the plates combine topographical accuracy with the picturesque aesthetic characteristic of French travel publications of the period. They depict ancient Roman monuments as well as panoramic views of towns, churches, harbours, and the striking coastal and mountainous scenery of Dalmatia and Montenegro.
The boards are somewhat rubbed and scratched, the edges and corners are scuffed. Lacking the two-page introduction, several leaves and plates are foxed. Otherwise in good condition. Graesse VII, p. 443; not in Abbey, Travel; Chadenat.