Parish Alvars's first voyage to Constantinople and the Eastern Mediterranean took place in 1832, and although the Marche Favorite du Sultan (op.30) was published as early as 1836, seven more years went by before publication was begun on the famous collection Voyage d'un Harpiste en Orient (op.62). Ten more passed before it was completed. Souvenir du Bosphore is the first of the set.The cover bore the following text:

Receuil d'Airs et de Mélodies populaire en Turquie et en Asie Mineure, confié à l'Instrument de la Poésie, La Harpe, et dédiés à Madame la Princesse Morousi de Constantinople par E. Parish Alvars, dont toutes ces melodies ont été exécutées devant le Sultan et dans les soirées de l'Ambassadeur de Russie le Comte de Boutinoff à Bujukdéré

[Collection of Airs and Melodies popular in Turkey and Asia Minor entrusted to The Harp, the Instrument of Poetry, and dedicated to the Princess Morousi of Constantinople by E Parish Alvars, all of which have been performed before the Sultan and at the soirées hosted by the Russian Ambassador, Count Boutinoff, at Bujukdéré]