LAMARTINE A. De, "Voyage EN ORIENT", Furne-Pagnerre-Hachette et Co, Paris, 1855-56. 2vols in-8°, p. 480+512. COMPLETE, with engraved frontispieces and total of 12 (7+5) full page engravings out of text. 

Alphonse De Lamartine was a famous romantic French author, poet, and statesman, playing an important role in the foundation of the French Second Republic and the continuation of the tricolore as the flag of France. In 1832 he made a trip to the Near East, the fruit of which was this book, his first non-fiction work. His political career is closely linked to his trip to the Orient. Elected to the Chamber in 1833, while sailing between Damascus and Beirut, Lamartine inaugurated his career as a deputy with a resounding speech on the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire, which occupied the great powers from the end of the 18th to the beginning of the 20th century. The famous "Eastern Question" would mobilize him for nearly thirty years. In this book, despite his admiration for ancient Greek art and his Greek-themed works, Lamartines pro-Turkishness is already visible, which led him later (1854) to write the History of Turkey.

Contemporary brown leather binding, fine tooling in gilt with paneling filets and fleurons along cover edges, spines with newer restoration externally and inside (brown leather-like fabric, with title in gilt); external wear along edges and boards; gold top edges, marbled end papers, very good interior condition, complete with its pretty engravings on steel. Scattered pencil underlinings. 

Good copy.