***SCARCE TRUE 1ST EDITION/1ST PRINTING WITH HUNDREDS OF ILLUSTRATIONS - full-page steel engraved plates, double-page plates, within page woodcuts, folding plans and maps and other fine engravings!*** Condition: GOOD EXTERIOR, VERY GOOD INTERIOR NINEVEH AND ITS REMAINS: With an Account of a Visit to the Chaldaean Christians of Kurdistan, and the Yezidis, or Devil-Worshippers; and an Enquiry into the Manners and Arts of the Ancient Assyrians by Austin Henry Layard Published in 1849 by John Murray in London, this is the famous author and historical figures first published book. True first edition, first printing as indicated by (1) 1849 copyright date with no other edition or printings (six thousand etc.) listed. (2) Published by John Murray in London. In period 1/2 calf over cloth over 175-years-old. A complete copy of this extensively illustrated work minus extraneous half-titles and publisher ads. All plates, maps and diagrams present. Octavo, 8.5 x 5.5 - xxx, [2], 399: xii, 491pp, with a tinted lithographic frontispiece to each volume, engravings and woodcuts throughout as per lists, including large folding map and folding plans. Blindruled half calf, spines with four broad gilt ruled raised bands and two red Morocco labels, all page edges speckled red. Period marbled endpapers. ABOUT THIS WORK In two separate trips, Layard was the first to discover and excavate the ancient city of Ninevah. This volume is the record of the initial discovery and excavation of the site. Layard's excavations would bring a greater understanding of the origins of civilization. An extensive and detailed description and interpretation of Layard's excavations and Ninevah. Maps and engravings illustrate not only the physical site and remains, they also illustrate the excavation itself. Layard s work is of special interest for he translated the cuneiform script of the region-- a very new area of study at the time and still subject to argument and revision. Translation of the cuneiform text would open up a new understanding both in the archeology of the region and its importance to ancient classical scriptures. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sir Austen Henry Layard GCB PC (1817 1894) was an English Assyriologist, traveler, cuneiformist, art historian, draughtsman, collector, politician and diplomat. He was born to a mostly English family in Paris and largely raised in Italy. He is best known as the excavator of Nimrud and of Nineveh, where he uncovered a large proportion of the Assyrian palace reliefs known, and in 1851 the library of Ashurbanipal. Most of his finds are now in the British Museum. He made a large amount of money from his best-selling accounts of his excavations. Condition: GOOD EXTERIOR, VERY GOOD INTERIOR The exterior is in Good antiquarian condition for approximately 175-year-old binding - leather is dry and brittle along the spine with areas of leather heavily rubbed or rubbed away. Corners abraded. Soiling to cloth. Binding holding firm but with cracking joints and some tenderness to hinges. Leather on spine starting to separate from paper beneath. Some age-toning and areas of soiling to edges. Interior has a few front endpapers with pencil writing in volume I, otherwise no writing, bookplates or stamps. Textblocks are firm, contents in good clean condition as seen, very lightly toned with scattered light foxing, the odd minor water stain or handling mark. Plan of Nimroud excavations a bit carelessly creased, map of Layards journeys with a couple of short closed tears and creasing to some edges. I have bought and sold books and art on eBay for over a decade and have a 100% satisfaction rating. I am now selling on ABE Books. Im a collector first and know what it's like to receive items not matching the sellers descriptions or that were poorly packaged and damaged in transit. That is why I offer a 100% satisfaction, money back guarantee, and go to great lengths to accurately describe my rare, signed and collectible books and post p
