A Month at Constantinople.

SMITH Albert (1850.)

£600.00  [First Edition]

First edition. With an engraved coloured frontispiece, a full page portrait of the author, a number of text illustrations, and a plan in the text. 8vo. Original blue blind-stamped cloth, with tughra vignette on the upper board and gilt decorated spine; light wear to extremities of spine (with small split to head), corners a little worn, otherwise very good. Interior exceptionally clean and fresh. Engraved bookplate of Rev. Charles Astley to front pastedown, later bookplate of Robert J. Hayhurst to front free endpaper and small discreet reference label to rear pastedown. pp. xi, [1], 236, [viii](publisher's catalogue)pp. London, David Bogue,

An interesting and nicely illustrated account of mid nineteenth century Istanbul, with descriptions of the circus, Seraglio (Topkapi Palace) and the great Mosques of the city. Smith also visited Smyrna (Izmir) and Büyükdere.

"Smith was a prolific writer of novels, essays, dramas, and a popular entertainer. He produced entertainments based on his travels; the first of these, 'The Overland Mail' commenced after his return from Constantinople in 1850. His book is an amusing work — the appendix contains a list of Smith's expenses, which totalled £53." (Blackmer). 

Blackmer, 1552.

Stock Code: 246608

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