Philhellenic: London " In course of Publication in London by A. Friedal & sold by the principal book & printsellers in town & Country." June 1826. Black & white lithograph portrait of Ali Pacha from the second edtion of Friedals "Series of Greek Portraits (4th part)" verso blank. The portrait bust, shows Ali in fur trimmed coat, smoking a chibouque; printed signature in turkish. Ali was considered part of the revolution despite his previous crimes against the Greek and Albanian populations because he went against the Supreme Porte. Clean and bright , Adam [de] Friedal, there is much confusion about Friedal's origins, He is supposed to be a Danish Phihellene and apparently passed himself off as a Baron. St Clair tells us that Friedal carried a lithographic press on his back whilst in Greece where he seems to have been between 1821-24.. He was at Missolonghi for a while with Lord Byron and married the sister of one of Byron's artificers, John Hodges. Byron wrote a letter introducing Friedal to the notice of the London Greek Commitee. Friedal returned and settled in London and produced his first portrait of Mavrocordato dated September 1824. "The Greeks. Twenty-four Portraits (In Four Parts Of Six Portraits Each,) of the Principal Leaders and Personages Who Have Made Themseves Most Conspicuous in the Greek Revolution.." 1st edition 1824. thereafter there are a number of editions, with differences to the portraits. The portraits in the 1st Edition, probably after Friedal's original drawings are fairly primitive, with each new edition they became more refined. A second edition of the first 2 parts was issued in 1826. Some of these plates are marked 'second edition', others merely have anew date on the plate surface. In most cases a completely new portrait replaces that of the previous ediion; parts 3 & 4 are unchanged. In 1827 two editions appeared with the imprint "London and Paris, 1827", some on India paper. one in which the portraits had no, or a very simple background, the other with full complex backgrounds. A French edition appeared the same year. In 1828-9 Dean & Munday brought out another series of Friedal plates, some but not all marked 'fourth edition', their most distinguishing feature being that they are full length. They re- issued a number of plates in 1830, marked fifth and sixth edition. There exist wrappers for a 'sixth edition 'appearing in 1832. [Navari]. Navari/ Blackmer: 633; Sotheby's/Blackmer:606; Philhellenic Ali Pacha
