COSTE, Pascal Xavier (1787-1879) - Monuments modernes de la Perse. Paris: A. Morel, 1867.   First edition of this monumental work dedicated to Persian architecture accompanied by splendid chromolithographic views. Coste had spent a decade in Egypt engaged in engineering projects for Mehmet Ali before traveling to Persia with his collaborator Flandin, as part of the French diplomatic mission to the country in 1839-1841. The author had also previously published Voyage en Perse in collaboration with Flandin. "Probably the single most attractive book on Persia and one of the rarest" (Ghani).   Elephant folio (570 x 428mm). Half-title, title printed in red black, 71 plates on 56 sheets of which 8 printed in colour, the others engraved and some double-page, all after Coste (some foxing to text and plates, heavier in the margins, more marked on tissue papers, half-title, a few sporadic tiny tears). Marbled paper backed in green cloth (somewhat worn).

Estimate € 5,000 - 8,000