Dellon, Charles (1649-1709?).

3 volumes, 12mo (165 x 94mm.), vol.1: [20], 476pp.; vol.2: [2], 249, [11]pp.; vol.3: [4], 270, [2 (blank)] pp., titles printed in red and black, title to vol. 1 a cancel, illustration: 6 plates engraved by Vermeulen after Sevin at pp. 115, 116, 117, 119, 121 and 131 (3 folding), binding: contemporary English calf, gilt spines, red morocco lettering-pieces

This is a reissue of the edition published with the same imprint in 1709. The typography of the volumes is French, and the Marteau imprint, used for many years, entirely fictitious: "Mais la palme revient à Cologne avec plus de cent imprimeurs supposés, parmi lesquels on connaît surtout Pierre Marteau, dont le nom figura dès 1660 et durant plus d'un siècle, dans des éditions nombreuses" (H.J. Martin in Histiore de l'édition française ii (Paris, 1984), p. 114; see also L. Janmart de Brouillant, Histoire de Pierre du Marteau (Paris, 1888)).

The account of the journey to the Indies and of Dellon's captivity under the Inquisition (he was incarcerated as a Protestant) was published in two volumes by Barbin in Paris in 1685. It was popular, being translated into English, Dutch, and German.

The work on the beliefs of the Indians is an addition which occupies very little of volume 3. Dellon tells us that this was written in Portuguese by a religious of that nation who had lived long in India, and knew the religious literature well. This man was on the same boat as Dellon who was being sent from Goa to Lisbon by the Inquisition. He was ill of scurvy, from which he died, but not before he had handed over his manuscript to Dellon, who translated it. In fact, most of volume 3 is taken up by the addition to the history of the Inquisition; pp. 120-182 contain the Latin text with French translation facing of Innocent XI's Brief Ad futuram rei memoriam, published in 1680, condemning a work by Jean Gerbais, his Dissertatio de causis majoribus ad caput concordatorum de causis, Paris, 1679. This Brief, Dellon says, had been so rigorously suppressed by the Portuguese, that it was only with difficulty he was able to obtain a copy.

Volume one has a dedication to Le baron de Breteuil et de Preuilly, inserted between the cancellans title and the preface.