Antiquities of Ionia. 5 Volumes. 

London: W. Bulmer, W. Nicol, & MacMillan, 1821, 1797, 1840, 1881 & 1915. First editions of Volumes II-V, second revised and expanded edition of volume I. 5 volumes. Folio (58 x 40 cm). Vol.1-3 in uniform, new half leather bindings, Vol.4-5 in nearly uniform, new half leather bindings. 257 engraved plates, maps and plans (including frontispieces to volumes IV and V), 25 engraved vignettes, 18 diagrams in the letter press of volume IV, engraved head- and tail-pieces throughout. Light foxing, but plates and text clean and fresh. Volume I was originally published in 1769, the second revised edition, present here, was published in 1821 with eight extra plates; volume V, 1915, is the supplement to volume III, the engravings of which were produced between 1820-1840 but the long delay in producing volume III resulted in its eventual publication after a set of proofs was given to the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1912.  The Ionian Antiquities are considered to be the Society of Dilettanti's greatest contribution to archaeology. The work, originally published over 146 years is based on two missions: "The two Ionian Missions - that of Richard Chandler, Nicholas Revett and William Pars, 1764-66, and of William Gell, John Gandy and Francis Bedford in 1812-13, were a major undertaking for what was a society of amateurs, however wealthy they might be as a collective body. The decision to undertake two such missions shows an amazing dedication to the aims of archaeology in what many believed to be merely an assembly of frivolous club men. The materials collected on these missions were truly impressive, especially when one considers the difficult conditions under which the men worked" (Blackmer).