BRIDEL (Philippe Sirice). Statistical essay on the Canton of Vallais. Zurich, Orell Fussli, 1820. In-16, contemporary boards (rubbed). Rare first edition, illustrated with a frontispiece, 4 folding views engraved by H. Hegi after J. J. Wetzel, 3 coloured plates of costumes and a folding map in fine. An important descriptive and historical work on the Valais. One reinforcement between the first and second quires. Dean Bridel (1757-1845) was one of the main authors who described Switzerland at the end of the 18th century in the style of a journalist. His stories were published in a periodical from 1783 under the title "Étrennes helvétiennes", which was renamed "Conservateur suisse" in 1813. On Bridel, see L. Vulliemin's "Le doyen Bridel : essai biographique". Perret, 0708 - ACL p. 45 - CAS p. 259 - Lonchamp p. 53