Voyage en Crimée et sur les bords de la Mer Noire, pendant l'année 1803 ; Suivi d'un Mémoire sur le Commerce de cette Mer, et de Notes sur les principaux Ports commerçans. Dédié à Sa Majesté l'Empereur et Roi

First edition, exceedingly rare, illustrated with 3 folding tables, 6 charming vignettes drawn and engraved by J. Duplessi-Bertaux, and 5 plates by Tardieu: 1 folding plan of Sebastopol, 1 large folding map, and 3 plates depicting medals, coins, and bas-reliefs (cf. Atabey 1034. Absent from Blackmer. No copy recorded in the NUC.)

Contemporary Bradel binding in full green paper-covered boards, smooth spine decorated with gilt rules, minor scuffing to spine and covers, a small snag at the foot of the upper cover, contemporary binding.

Wear to spine ends, one bumped lower corner, occasional foxing, a few dampstains at the foot of certain leaves.

In February 1803, Baron de Reuilly (1780-1810) accompanied the Duke of Richelieu to Odessa, following his appointment as governor of the city; he subsequently travelled through southern Russia, chiefly the Crimea, and ventured into the Sea of Azov, surveying its western shores.

Reuilly corresponded with the eminent German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas, who honoured him with his friendship and guided him in his explorations. Pages 233 to 240 contain the itinerary devised by Pallas for all the remarkable sites of the Crimea. "In this important work Reuilly describes the Crimea prior to the Russian conquest. Pallas, resident in the Crimea until 1810, also contributed to the work. Reuilly himself translated Pallas' description of Tibet into French in 1808" [Leonora Navari].