Souvenirs de la Sicile

The rare first edition of this journey to Sicily by the Count de Forbin. One frontispiece, ruins of the theater of Taormina, drawn by the Count de Forbin, and 2 plates of music of a Sicilian arietta, as well as 2 figures of coins.
Contemporary full green morocco binding. Cathedral-style spine with raised bands, decorated with gilt and blind monastic tools in panels. Green morocco title label. Covers with rich blind border featuring various friezes, stamped in blind with a central monastic tool. Tools on the edges and turn-ins. Blind-stamped leather borders. Gilt edges. Yellow checkered endpapers. Scattered foxing. At foot: R. P. Decle.
Very handsome copy in an original binding.
Journey undertaken during the Sicilian insurrection for independence in 1820. The book is therefore composed of two parts, one being the travel narrative and the other on the Sicilian revolt, the author attempting to understand the reasons for this uprising.
The journey is followed, after the notes, by the novella The Raja of Bednore.