Fynes Moryson | An itinerary. London, 1617, speckled calf

The Property of the Downside Abbey General Trust

Fynes Moryson

An itinerary... containing his ten yeeres travell through the twelve dominions of Germany, Bohmerland, Sweitzerland, Netherland, Denmarke, Poland, Italy, Turky, France, England, Scotland, and Ireland. London: John Beale, 1617

FIRST EDITION, folio (327 x 210mm.), woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces, a few headings within woodcut cartouches, woodcut illustrations and maps, with initial and final blank leaves, contemporary panelled mottled calf, speckled edges, small hole in Vu3 with loss of a few letters, joints and spine repaired

A crisp copy of Moryson's account of his extensive travels across Europe and to Constantinople and Jerusalem in the 1590s, as well as Scotland and Ireland where he spent time shortly afterwards, and which form a substantial part of his narrative. Moryson (1565/6-1630) wrote his account in Latin but this English translation was published first; a fourth section survives in manuscript and was not published until 1903.

Moryson was a competent linguist and was able to disguise his nationality during his travels. His account is full of the details of quotidian matters as well as trade and customs; it is considered today a valuable source of information about contemporary Europe, despite its lack of success at the time of publication.

LITERATURE:

STC 18205

PROVENANCE:

W. Rathbone (?), early signature at head of title-page; Edward Conyers of Walthamstow, armorial bookplate