Remarkable Events in the Life of Ali Pacha. Historical Portraiture of Leading Events in the Life of Ali Pacha, Vizier of Epirus, Surnamed the Lion, In a Series of Designs Drawn by W. Davenport and Engraved by G. Hunt, with a Biographical Sketch

Davenport, W.

Published by Thomas McLean. Printed by Howlett & Brimmer, London, 1825

About this Item

Colorful and epic account of the Napoleon of the Balkans and one of the most colorful and epic of rulers -- Ali Pacha (1741-1822), of Albanian origin, managed to rule a swath of Ottoman territory encompassing much of present day Albania and Greece as virtually independent of his overlords until he was finally quashed by the Ottomans in 1822, when he was captured and executed. Nonetheless, Ali Pacha's rule pre-figured and galvanized the fight for Greek independence. Folio, 37.5 by 27 cm. 30, [2] pp. With half-title, six hand-colored aquatint plates, all capturing dramatic events in the life of the larger-than-life leader. Davenport's account is brief, and essentially is a synopsis of a biography by Alphonse de Beauchamp, which had been translated into English and published in 1822. While the publication date of this account is given as 1823, we note that one plate, the only plate of the six with a discernible watermark, is watermarked 1825. The final two, unpaginated pages, are a publisher's advertisement for its offerings of color plate books, most of which are now well-known and desirable titles of the genre. Ali Pacha is noted in the following bibliographies: Abbey, Travel 206; Atabey 325; Blackmer 454; Prideaux p. 334; Tooley 179. With contemporary, probably publisher's cloth binding. Original paper title label on front board mostly intact, except for on small edge chip. The label is fairly heavily soiled, however, as is true of the cloth binding everywhere, with some stains that stand out but a grittiness everywhere combined with a loss of color beyond the obscuring of the color from the griminess. Fairly large ink splatters on the rear board. Several tears of spine cloth and extremity chips. The hinges have been repaired, with bands of matching paper by hinge mounted onto endpapers, front and rear. The text block is solid. Light to moderate foxing scattered on the leaves. The color of the color plates, though, remains vibrant and rich.

Seller Inventory # 20051

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Remarkable Events in the Life of Ali Pacha. Historical Portraiture of Leading Events in the Life of Ali Pacha, Vizier of Epirus, Surnamed the Lion, In a Series of Designs Drawn by W. Davenport and Engraved by G. Hunt, with a Biographical Sketch
• Publisher: Thomas McLean. Printed by Howlett & Brimmer, London
• Publication Date: 1825
• Binding: Hardcover. Cloth
• Illustrator: Davenport. Engraved by G. Hunt
• Edition: First Edition.
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Color Plate Books
  • Travel and Exploration