The author, a nephew of the famous poet, went for a tour in Greece in 18321833, and published various works on its topography and archaeology, the most famous of which is this volume, first published in 1839. This edition has a supplement by Sir George Scharf, art critic, illustrator, and director of the National Portrait Gallery. The binding firm of Kelly & Sons was founded by John Kelly in 1770 in the vicinity of the Strand, London, but the shop was later moved to larger premises in Water Street. This firm created attractive full leather bindings throughout the nineteenth century.
