Nineveh and its Remains : With an account of a visit to the Chaldean Christians of Kurdistan, and the Yezidis, or Devil-Worshippers; and an inquiry into the manners and arts of the ancient Assyrians

New York: George P Putnam. Good with no dust jacket. 1849. First American Edition. Hardcover. Front hinge started, rear hinge taped, front joint rubbed, edgewear, random foxing, owner's signature, otherwise light wear. Folding map with edge tears and old tape repairs. Still serviceable hardcover with solid text. ; Two volumes bound as one, complete. Half morocco binding with six compartment spine, gilt spine lettering and decor, gilt decoration on front cover, by Cook & Somerville, Binders, New York. Classic work on the first British Museum expedition to present-day Iraq, where archaeology went beyond the hunt for artifacts to seek to understand the societies that produced the objects. Layard's two-volume Nineveh, a best-seller in its time, combines excavation reportage, ancient history, anthropology, and travel literature to paint a vibrant picture of the Assyrian Empire and nineteenth-century Mesopotamia. While the book was published before Layard realized the city he excavated was Nimrud, not Nineveh, his second expedition in the following years did find that city. Nimrud was significant as the 9th and 8th century BC capital of the Assyrian Empire. Parts of its North-West Palace, unearthed during Layard's first expedition and described in this book, are on display at the British Museum, London. An attractive copy of the first American Edition of the now classic work of early-Victorian archaeology.; viii, 3-326, 1-373 pages .