![WOOD, Robert. The Ruins of Balbec, otherwise Heliopolis in Coelosyreia. London: 1757. [Bound after:] Les ruines de Palmyre autrment dite Tedmor au Desert. London: A. Millar, 1753.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2006/CKS/2006_CKS_07275_0157_000(010414).jpg?w=1)
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WOOD, Robert. The Ruins of Balbec, otherwise Heliopolis in Coelosyreia. London: 1757. [Bound after:] Les ruines de Palmyre autrment dite Tedmor au Desert. London: A. Millar, 1753.
2 works in 1 vol., 2° (542 x 347mm). 57 and 47 numbered engraved plates, P. Foudrinier, T.M. Müller, and Thomas Major after G.B. Borra. (Light browning and light spotting.) Contemporary full red morocco by E. Backmann, St. Petersburg, with gilt Greek-key roll border on covers, green morocco label on spine, gilt edges, gilt turn-ins (light scuffs and light spotting, small repair on spine). Provenance: contemporary Russian arms, two quarters with the Imperial eagle, one with crown, and the last with ?an arm brandishing a sword (stamp of front blank verso) -- 'Artium Genio' (bookplate).
A STUNNING CONTEMPORARY ST. PETERSBURG BINDING BY BACKMANN WITH FINE RUSSIAN PROVENANCE. First edition and first French edition of Wood's magnificent architectural plates describing the remarkable ruins of Balbec and Palmyra. Compared with the ruins of other ancient cities Wood had visited, he considered those at Balbec 'the remains of the boldest plan we ever saw attempted in architecture in the region' (Blackmer 1113). Backmann probably moved to St. Petersburg after Catherine II failed to secure the services of Kalthoeber; the Lenin Library in Moscow has three Bodoni Press books almost certainly bound by Backmann (see Maggs catalogue 1210, item 32). The first French edition of Palmyra was published later in the same year as the first English edition. Blackmer 1835; Fowler 444; Harris 936.
2 works in 1 vol., 2° (542 x 347mm). 57 and 47 numbered engraved plates, P. Foudrinier, T.M. Müller, and Thomas Major after G.B. Borra. (Light browning and light spotting.) Contemporary full red morocco by E. Backmann, St. Petersburg, with gilt Greek-key roll border on covers, green morocco label on spine, gilt edges, gilt turn-ins (light scuffs and light spotting, small repair on spine). Provenance: contemporary Russian arms, two quarters with the Imperial eagle, one with crown, and the last with ?an arm brandishing a sword (stamp of front blank verso) -- 'Artium Genio' (bookplate).
A STUNNING CONTEMPORARY ST. PETERSBURG BINDING BY BACKMANN WITH FINE RUSSIAN PROVENANCE. First edition and first French edition of Wood's magnificent architectural plates describing the remarkable ruins of Balbec and Palmyra. Compared with the ruins of other ancient cities Wood had visited, he considered those at Balbec 'the remains of the boldest plan we ever saw attempted in architecture in the region' (Blackmer 1113). Backmann probably moved to St. Petersburg after Catherine II failed to secure the services of Kalthoeber; the Lenin Library in Moscow has three Bodoni Press books almost certainly bound by Backmann (see Maggs catalogue 1210, item 32). The first French edition of Palmyra was published later in the same year as the first English edition. Blackmer 1835; Fowler 444; Harris 936.
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