First issue second and enlarged edition. Two volumes. 4to contemporary calf with gilt floral motif border gilt edges and gilt inner dentelles. Spine in six gilt compartments of blind bands and gilt armorial motifs red morocco labels on two and four. Edges and endpapers marbled. Complete with 60 hand coloured lithographed plates (including frontispiece) and one map of Persia. P. Vol I. 2 ff. Half-title printer's imprint blank frontis title blank i-xi blank I-XXV blank 27-282 3 ff; Vol II. 2 ff. half-title printer's imprint title blank 243 pp. [1] p. 2 ff. Mispagination I:49 (reads 64"). Text unaffected. Head and bottom of spines neatly repaired small repair to top margin of last 3 leaves in Vol I else a fine copy; text and plates are clean and crisp. Bound in attractive 18th ca. French full calf and housed in a marbled slipcase. This is a beautifully illustrated account of travels in Persia with many fine costume plates and interior scenes. According to Wilson the book was published in St. Petersburg twice in 1819, one with coloured plates the other without. Due to popularity in 1825, the version with the coloured plates was expanded and republished in Paris (there had only been 150 copies made in the first publication of the coloured version). This is an example of that edition. A later Paris edition was published in 1828 also labeled "second edition," which is not to be confused with this 1825 Paris "second edition." Drouville was in the service of the Czar of Russia. The plates are costume. Coloured plates in order: Volume 1. 1. Frontis. Portrait du Roi actuel de Perse; Fatey-Aly Schah. 2. Persan en habit d'ete. 3. Persan couvert de son Kurck. 4. Mirza en robe de Ceremonie. 5. Persan en Katebi de velours. 6. Dame persane en Hikmeh de fourrure. 7. Homme du peuple en hourdi. 8. Dame persan en Scpapkin de Brocard. 9. Dame persane en Arkalai sans schal. 10. Dame georgienne en costume national. 11. Dame circassienne en costume national. 12. Dame persanne a la promenade couverte du Chadera et du Roubend. 13. Vue exterieure d'un village persan. 14. Vue interieure d'un Caravanserai de ville. 15. Vue exterieure d'un Caravanserai forain. 16. Persan fumant la Cailliane. 17. Repas persan (folding plate). 18. Persan se promenant a cheval en fumant (folding plate). 19. Femme armenien ne tenant un enfant par la main. 20. Toufangchi nestorien du Hekary. 21. Courde des montagnes du Hekary. 22. Femme nestoriene. 23. Califa (Eveque) nestorien. 24. Cheick al Islam (Grand Pretre de Perse). 25. Derviche charlatan persan. 26. Fakir ou mendiant arabe. 27. Femme du Roi voyageant a cheval. 28. Femmes du Roi voyageant en Caktirevan. 29. Cheval du Roi peint de henne. 30. Punition persane. 31. Criminel Persan a la chaine. 32. Noble Persan en habit de Cour. 33. Golam du Roi; cavalier de la garde royale. 34. Nackzachi-Bachi Grand maitre des Ceremonies. 35. Schotter-Bachi chef Coureurs du Roi. Volume 2. [Carte de la Perse Pour le Voyage du Colonel G. Dourville 1819.] 36. Musique Militaire. 37. Danseur persan. 38. Danseuse persane. 39. Athletes persans en excercice (folding plate). 40. Athletes luttant (folding plate). 41. Femmes persannes en pelerinage. 42. Chasseur conduisant des chiens. 43. Serbas soldat regulier de la premiere formation. 44. Serbas, Soldat irregulier de la seconde formation. 45. Chasseurs dragons. 46. Afchard courant au galop apres un Turc. 47. Djanbas, soldat irregulier du Roi. 48. Soldat regulier formation francaise. 49. Nizam atly Lancier regulier persan. 50. Drapeau et etendard persans. 51. Zombarek Artillerie irreguliere legere. 52. Zombarek dechargeant sa piece sur un chameau. 53. Copchi, cannonier regulier de nouvelle formation. 54. Archer cavalier persan. 55. Sacas porteur d'eau. 56. Ceremonie des funerailles persanes. 57. Curde de la plaine, au grand galop. 58. Dame curde paree au Harem. 59. Dame curde a la promenade. 60. Famille nomade curde sous une Cente avec leurs bestiaux (folding plate - torn).