Thevenot, Melchisedec.

5 parts in 2 volumes, folio (347 x 220mm.), titles and a few other leaves printed in red and black, 12 double-page and/or folding engraved maps (one with an additional woodcut map, "...ports de la Mer Rouge", on same sheet), 10 double-page and/or folding plates, 3 single-page plates, and 15 engraved illustrations (including one of a Dodo, sometimes not present), 4 double-page and/or folding woodcut coastal profiles, 46 full-page woodcut illustrations, a few other woodcuts in text, with title-pages "Sinarum scientia politico-moralis..." and "Histoire de l'empire mexicain..." (not always present), contemporary calf gilt, spines gilt in compartments, bookplate of George W. Pratt, [JCB, 1675-1700, pp.335-341; Sabin 95334; Löwendahl 217], lacking pp.1-4 and 9-12 (sig. a and c) in final relation (as usual), some text leaves spotted, binding slightly rubbed, minor expert restoration to spines

The most comprehensive collection of voyages of discovery of its time, containing the first printed map of the Australian continent, with accounts of newly discovered and explored regions of the world from original manuscripts, printed texts and conversations. The accounts include travels in China, Japan, Thailand, Tartary, Mongolia, the Philippines, India, Egypt, Ethiopia, Arabia, Persia, Russia, America, the Pacific, New Guinea and New Holland. The map of Australia is in the fourth state with Tasman's route marked.

The five parts of this collection were published in turn over a number of years from 1663, with part 5 here appearing for the first time (including an account of Tasman's voyage). For this collected edition some leaves were reprinted and as a result  there are many variant states of this edition, with the contents and arrangement of copies varying. The plate count can also differ depending whether single plates with more than one image have been cut into two. This copy however seems to accord with the points in the detailed collation found in Catalogue of the John Carter Brown Library, has good margins, is in a contemporary binding, and as such is a remarkably good copy of an important work.