MURRAY, John. A Hand-Book for Travellers in the Ionian Islands, Greece, Turkey, Asia Minor, and Constantinople; being A Guide to the principal Routes in those Countries, including a Description of Malta; with Maxims and Hints for Travellers in the East. London, John Murray, 1840.
Small 8vo. Original salmon ribbed cloth, lettered in gilt, ruled in blind; pp. vi, xxxvi, 392, four folding maps (including plan of Constantinople), light fading and minimal rubbing to cloth, otherwise very clean and fresh.
First edition of an early title in John Murray's series on Hand-Books for Travellers, after the initial one for Travellers on the Continent (first, 1836 or 38, second edition 1839), written by John Murray himself. This guide book was based on and compiled from the leading authorities and travellers of the 1830s. John Murray III had studied geology and mineralogy in Edinburgh in 1827. 'In the following year Murray embarked on his career in the family publishing house at 50 Albemarle Street, London. Visits to the continent from 1829 prepared the way for his first major publishing initiative. Struck by the difficulty of obtaining the kind of information he wanted, he filled notebooks with history, architecture, geology, and practical details. On his return he arranged his material along routes and compiled general accounts of the countries concerned, leading to the highly successful series of Murray handbooks' (ODNB). The series was launched in 1836.
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