EBEL (Johann Gottfried). Handbook for travellers in Switzerland. Zurich, Orell & Füssli, 1809-1810. 4 volumes in-8°, bound in half basane, title and appendices. Third French edition of this first tourist guide covering the whole of Switzerland and neighbouring territories. Volume I is illustrated with a frontispiece, a fold-out map in colour and three fold-out plates; volumes II and IV each include an aquatint-engraved frontispiece and volume III a fold-out plate (in total, 3 frontispieces, a map and 4 fold-out plates). In addition to detailed notes on each locality, it contains general information on Switzerland and an extensive bibliography of published prints and works. It was a great success, with numerous editions and copies in German, French and English. Some heavy foxing. Editions prior to 1815 are rare. The first French edition was published in one volume in 1795 under the title Instructions pour un voyageur qui se propose de parcourir la Suisse de la manière la plus utile et la plus propre à lui procurer toutes les jouissures dont cette contrée abonde ; la seconde a été publiée en 1805 en 4 volumes, la première sous le titre Manuel du voyageur en Suisse, ce qui justifie la mention Deuxième édition figurant sur celle de 1810-1811. Johann Gottfried Ebel (Züllichau 1764 - Zurich 1830) was a Swiss physician, geologist and publicist. Born in Prussia, he studied medicine and practised for several years in Frankfurt and Vienna, before settling in Zurich. He was particularly interested in the Righi, and made a major contribution to the reputation of this lookout point. He published this guide to Switzerland, which was a reference for travellers in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and influenced Schiller for his William Tell. Perret 1474 - Regards sur les Alpes 33 - Meckly 069 (1st edition)