Tavernier, Jean Baptiste (1605-1689).

Estimate

1,500 - 2,000 GBP

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Description

The Six Voyages... through Turky into Persia and the East-Indies, for the space of forty years. Giving an account of the present state of those countries, viz. of the religion, government, customs, and commerce of every country and the figures, weight, and value of the money currant all over Asia. To which is added, a new description of the seraglio. Made English by J. P. Added likewise, a voyage into the Indies, &c. by an English traveller, never before printed: publish’d by Dr Daniel Cox. London: William Godbid for Robert Littlebury and Moses Pitt, 1677

4 parts in one volume (see footnote), folio (320 x 200mm.), [20], 184; 214, [2 (blank)], 195-264 (misbound); [6], 97, [1 (blank)]; [8], 107-119, [3 ("Books sold by Moses Pitt")] pp., illustration: 25 engraved plates (including a duplicate plate of rubies facing p.150 in part 2), 2 folding, woodcut head-pieces and initials, engraved and woodcut illustrations in text, binding: contemporary mottled calf, spine in six compartments with raised bands gilt, lacking title to part 2, pp.195-264 (book V of the Persian travels) misbound after part 2, upper joint split, spine slightly worn, extremities rubbed

Literature

Wing T255A; this edition not in Wilson, Weber, Blackmer or Atabey

Catalogue Note

An uncommon edition, published in the same year as the first English translation. Tavernier spent eleven months in Constantinople before setting out on his first journey. He joined a caravan for Persia in 1638 and, between 1643 and 1668, made six voyages to Persia, India, the East Indies and Japan. During his travels he amassed a large collection of diamonds and other jewels. His successful commercial enterprise was recognised by Louis XIV and he was granted a patent of nobility for his contribution to the establishment of French trade in Asia. It was Tavernier who indicated the trade routes to the East and made it possible for others to follow him.

This volume is divided into 4 parts (each with its own title; the second lacking in this copy), the first on Persia, the second (separately paginated) on the money of Arabia and Asia and travels in India (as well as Ceylon, Batavia, Siam and Japan), the third (separately paginated) "A new relation of the inner-part of the Grand Seignor's seraglio" and the fourth "A short description of all the kingdoms which encompass the Euxine and Caspian Seas".