A finely bound example of the first edition of the grandest book of engraved views of Constantinople. "One of the finest topographical illustrated books ever produced" (Koç).

Antoine Ignace Melling, who was born at Karlsruhe in 1763 and died in Paris in 1831, studied painting and architecture. At the age of nineteen years he went to the Levant via the Archipelago, staying at Constantinople for several years. There he was introduced to the Sultan's sister by the Danish ambassador. She wished to renovate her palace at Ortakeui, and in 1795 Melling was appointed as architect. Melling was given the freedom of Selim III's palaces, including the Harem, and he produced several drawings of these properties.

After completing a number of building projects for Selim, Melling returned to Paris in about 1803, where, in 1804 he issued a prospectus for the Voyage pittoresque. Publication eventually began in 1809, issuing over a number of years thirteen livraisons, being completed by 1819. The outstanding success of the exhibitions of the paintings on which the Voyage pittoresque was based earned Melling the title of painter to the Empress Josephine.

First edition. The plate volume (text not present), large folio (65 x 50 cm). Engraved title, 3 double-page maps and 48 double-page etched plates after Melling by Schroeder, Bertaux, Le Rouge, Pillement, Desaux, Dessaulx, Desmaisons, Duparc, Dequevauviller, Née, and others, some before numbers; first map slightly soiled at margins, with 15cm. tear through engraved area and smaller tear at bottom margin, plate 37 with 15.5cm. tear through bottom margin, some shorter tears to folds, some plates a little spotted. Near contemporary full green straight-grained morocco by Fairbairn and Armstrong, panelled in gilt and blind, spine richly gilt, raised bands, large turn-ins decorated in gilt and blind, all edges gilt; a little rubbed at extremities.

Atabey 798-799; Blackmer 1105; Brunet III, 1591; Lipperheide LB 41; Koç, Constantinople I 214; Weber 77.