One of the most substantial illustrated books on Persia. Having been a court painter in St. Petersburg, Porter (1777-1842) decided to undertake these travels for the purpose of archaeological investigation. One of his aims was to correct errors in the drawings of earlier travellers such as Chardin and Le Bruin. His work therefore contains many archaeological plates, as well as scenic views and (coloured) costumes.

From Russia, Porter travelled to Tabriz. Here he met Abbas Mirza, with whom he spent considerable time. The two then travelled on to Tehran, where Porter was granted an audience with Fath Ali Shah, whom he found to be very impressive. Porter then travelled to Esfahan, Persepolis, and Shiraz. 'An intelligent and readable book' (Ghani).

First edition, 2 vols, 4to, half-title in volume 2 (not called for in volume 1), 2 engraved folding maps and 88 plates (engraved or aquatint), some folding, 5 coloured by hand, illustrations in text, executed in different media (aquatint, line-engravings, stipple-engravings); contemporary sprinkled calf, gilt borders to covers, spine in five compartments, morocco labels to second and fourth, others richly gilt, broad gilt dividers, marbled edges, neat repairs to joints and spine extremities, usual offsetting to colour plates, light foxing to frontispiece vol. ii and occasionally elsewhere, a very good clean, fresh copy.

Abbey (Travel), 359; Atabey 976; Ghani p.304; Weber I, 104; Wilson p.177.